Bullet holes were evident in the silver Jeep, and shell casings were retrieved from the pavement.
Moss Haven Elementary moms are trying to figure out if their kids were in danger last week as they walked home from school an hour after a drive by shooting occurred 200 yards from campus. They say they’ve gotten conflicting stories from Dallas police officials, and they’re pushing to make sure communications between police and the school improve.
Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, children on the playground and residents in surrounding homes heard 5-6 gunshots nearby. Most figured the bangs were simply contractors running nail guns, so they went on about their business, but someone called 911 to report gunfire.
Out in the street at the corner of Flower Meadow Drive and Moss Farm Lane, two individuals must have been thanking their lucky stars. One bullet hole was clearly visible in the windshield of their silver Jeep, head high and midway between the two front seats. Another hole was apparent in the rear passenger door. The duo waited in chairs on a resident’s front porch until multiple police cars arrived. Officers collected shell casings from the pavement and wrapped yellow tape around the Jeep to keep the crime scene secure.
A few neighbors who have the Citizen App downloaded onto their phone received notice of the gunshots and of activity by responding police. “The suspects are reported to be eastbound on Moss Farm Lane in gray vehicle firing shots,” the app explained. Neighborhood moms began texting each other and posting warnings to social media. At 2:43 p.m., at least one mom called the school to inform Principal Jose Vega.
According to a timeline provided by the principal to parents at MHE, Vega immediately contacted officials in Richardson ISD’s Safety and Security Department, but they didn’t have any reports of an incident on Moss Farm Lane. Vega explained that he could see police vehicles from the school, and RISD called DPD. DPD assured RISD that the situation was secure, students were safe and no lockdown or secure-in-place was necessary. MHE was given the “all clear” to dismiss students at 3 o’clock as usual.
DPD public information officers told Lake Highlands Advocate the call was logged as “random gunfire” and “no offense report was made.” No shooter has been apprehended – or even sought, one would assume, since no offense was logged.
Moss Haven moms were given alternative explanations by DPD, from “It was a drunk person who made the call” to “No gunshots were fired” to “It was a boyfriend/girlfriend domestic situation, but the shooter wasn’t shooting AT anyone” to “We know who the suspect is, but no, we haven’t located him, and no arrest has been made at this time.”
Major Danny Williams, head of the northeast substation at Audelia and Northwest Highway, explained it this way: “Officers quickly responded and found a pre planned meeting involving ex boyfriend and girlfriend had resulted in the male firing 6 rounds into the vehicle of the female before fleeing location (no injury). The only connection to the area was that of the female visiting a friend in the area when she requested to meet the suspect.”
So, what gives?
The moms I communicated with say they’re grateful for the quick action of Principal Vega, and they appreciate RISD officials, who shared information with parents at a PTA meeting. None were willing to let me use their name since the shooter is still on the loose, and each one said she’s an enthusiastic supporter of the police, but all want to know why DPD did not contact the school promptly. They don’t think Principal Vega should have heard about the shooting from a mom who read about it on an app.
Meanwhile, the full story of what happened along that dead end street remains a mystery.
If the gunfire was random, why was the victim’s vehicle seen parked and occupied near the scene of the shooting earlier in the day? If the suspect is known to police, why hasn’t he/she been arrested? If it was a domestic violence incident, why was no offense logged? If no one was in danger, how did the bullet come so close to the two occupants in the vehicle?
Police have not revealed whether they think the shooter might return to renew his beef with the “friend” the female was visiting in the area. They haven’t said whether they’ve provided protection for the female or warned the shooter to stay away. They haven’t said whether they’ll send additional patrols for the neighborhood or given a description of the shooter’s vehicle.
