Residents in a south Fort Worth neighborhood say they are once again dealing with the aftermath of gunfire — this time, bullets striking a home while a family slept inside.
The latest incident happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday in the Sycamore Landing neighborhood, where neighbors say random shootings have become a recurring concern.
Jeremy King said he acted quickly when gunfire erupted outside his home.
“I just quickly pushed my wife off the bed and told her to get on the floor,” King said.
Four bullets pierced the family’s home, narrowly missing King’s wife and their two young sons. King said he immediately checked on his children after the shots were fired.
“I crawled in there to check on them. They were sound asleep,” King said.
Neighbors say the Kings are the latest victims in a pattern of violence they believe involves armed youth in the area. Surveillance video from nearby homes appears to show a person reaching over King’s backyard fence and firing a weapon, possibly aiming at another house but hitting multiple homes instead.
Concerns about the violence are not new.
Ernesto Arango, who lives in the neighborhood, said he first raised the issue months ago and has since contacted city leaders and attended meetings, but feels little has changed.
“Same thing with that neighbor. Same thing with that neighbor. That house was hit two others were hit over there. We get home and the first thing we do is check to see if there are any holes. That’s not a way to live so what are our elected officials doing for us?” Arango said.
Arango said residents are still waiting for a clear plan to address the ongoing shootings.
“Give me a three month, six month, nine month, 12 month – we’re going to do this to curtail the violence the shootings. There is no answers,” Arango said.
While some neighbors have installed surveillance cameras, they say more visible police presence is needed to deter crime.
“It would be nice to have a patrol car pretty much stationary because all of the calls, they should have someone here,” King said.
Frustration among residents continues to grow, with some warning others to avoid moving into the neighborhood altogether.
“Don’t buy here because you might die in your home while you’re sleeping,” Arango said.
NBC 5 brought residents’ concerns and requests for a more specific plan to the Fort Worth Police Department.
In a statement, a spokesperson said officers are aware of the situation and will continue to maintain a presence in the neighborhood while working to identify and address concerns. The department also encouraged homeowners to stay in communication with their neighborhood police officer to remain informed about ongoing efforts.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.