Family members say Latasha Hymond died after a shooting at a Fourth of July block party on Castleman and Comanche Street in Fort Worth.
FORT WORTH, Texas — At the intersection of Castleman and Comanche Street in Fort Worth, spent fireworks are a reminder of what happened on the Fourth of July.
“It was fun. It started out good. Everyone was going out and cooking in their backyards,” said Lizbeth, a neighbor. “They started shooting and it just went downhill from there.”
The 16-year-old girl was with her family on the porch of their home when they heard rapid gunshots. “I was running into my house, grabbing my [3-year-old] brother, pulling him inside, and that’s when everyone started running, hiding in people’s houses.
Fort Worth police were already monitoring the area. They confirmed that 200 to 300 people had taken over the neighborhood. Police said fireworks, illegal in Fort Worth, were being launched toward homes on the street.
Latasha Hymond was live streaming on Facebook from Castleman Street. Family members said the 39-year-old makeup artist and business owner was killed in the gunfire.
Her cousin, Pastor Felton Jenkins, learned of her death that morning. “She’s a sweetheart. She’s my angel,” Jenkins said. “Every time we see each other, we hug, kiss, smile, dance, whatever. We’re going to cheer each other up. She was loved by everyone.”
He spends every day as a community leader fighting gun violence, but this time he said the pain is personal.
Police say two other victims of the shooting survived. Another person died after a medical emergency. At this point, police believe there are multiple suspects, but no one has been arrested yet.
“Come on Fort Worth,” Pastor Jenkins said. “This is real. Stop these block parties.” He hopes people who know what happened will come forward so the suspects can be arrested.
For Lizbeth, hearing gunshots on her street is nothing new. “You grow up with it, you get used to it,” the teenager said. But she’s disheartened that the party turned into a deadly night.
