Latasha Hymond was shot and killed at a Fourth of July block party at Castleman and Comanche streets in Fort Worth, her family said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Across the intersection of Castleman and Comanche streets in Fort Worth, spent fireworks serve as a reminder of what happened on the Fourth of July.
“It was fun. It started off great. Everyone came outside and they were cooking in the front yard,” neighbor Lizbeth said. “Then the shooting started and it all just got worse from there.”
The 16-year-old girl was on the front porch with her family when she heard the gunfire. “I ran into the house. [3-year-old] His brother pulled him into the house, and everyone started running away and hiding in people's houses.”
The Fort Worth Police Department had already been monitoring the area and confirmed that between 200 and 300 people had occupied the block. Police said fireworks, which are illegal in Fort Worth, were being set off toward homes along the street.
Latasha Hymond was on Castleman Street doing a Facebook Live broadcast when her family said Hymond, a 39-year-old makeup artist and business owner, was killed in the shootout.
Her cousin, the Rev. Felton Jenkins, learned of her death in the morning. “She was a sweet person. She was my angel,” said Rev. Jenkins. “Every time we saw each other, we hugged, we kissed, we smiled, we danced, we did everything. We cheered each other on. She was loved by everyone.”
He said that as a community leader he spends his days fighting gun violence, but that the pain of this moment is personal.
Two other shooting victims survived, while another died after emergency medical treatment, police said. At this time, police believe there are multiple suspects, but no one is in custody.
“Fort Worth, I'm begging you,” Jenkins said. “This is real. Stop the block party.” He hopes someone who knows what happened will come forward and that the suspects will be arrested.
It's not uncommon for Lisbeth to hear gunfire on her street — “When you grow up hearing it, you get used to it,” she said — but she is dismayed that the celebration has turned into a night of death.
