Investigators said gunfire was directed toward occupied houses beyond a fence line.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth police said surveillance video helped lead to the arrests of five teenagers accused of firing guns toward occupied homes on a Sunday night in south Fort Worth, an incident that sparked frantic 911 calls from residents who reported bullets passing close to them. Police said multiple firearms were seized during a traffic stop.
The case centers on how quickly investigators said they moved from a neighborhood gunfire call to identifying a vehicle and making arrests. Police said a department unit that reviews camera footage saw several individuals firing and determined the shots were headed toward homes where people were inside. Five teens now face a mix of felony and misdemeanor charges, including deadly conduct, as investigators continue to sort out what happened, why it happened, and whether additional evidence will be presented in court.
Police said officers were dispatched just after 9:20 p.m. to the 3200 block of Yuma Street near Mississippi Avenue after a report of a person with a weapon. As officers responded, the department’s Real Time Crime Center reviewed surveillance footage from the area, police said. The video showed multiple individuals firing guns and sending rounds in the direction of nearby homes, according to police. Investigators said the shots went beyond a fence line toward occupied houses, and police described the actions as reckless and dangerous given the number of people who could have been inside or outside at the time.
The calls from residents underscored that danger, police said. Dispatchers received reports from people who said bullets were “passing by their heads,” and callers told officers they dropped to the ground for protection. Police said the residents feared serious injury or death. While police did not report anyone being hit, officers treated the call as a serious threat because gunfire in a neighborhood can travel unpredictably through yards, fences and walls. Police did not say whether bullets struck homes or vehicles, and investigators did not release information about property damage.
After reviewing the footage, investigators worked to identify the people involved and the car connected to them, police said. Police said they were able to determine a license plate and locate the vehicle. Officers then carried out what the department called a “high-risk traffic stop,” a tactic often used when police believe occupants may be armed or may try to flee. During the stop, police said, one passenger pulled a handgun from his waistband and shoved it under the front passenger seat to conceal it. Officers removed all five teens from the vehicle, police said.
Police said they seized multiple firearms from the vehicle and also found marijuana in a backpack. Authorities did not release the make or model of the firearms, how many were recovered, or whether investigators believe those guns match what was seen on video. Police also did not say whether any of the guns were reported stolen or whether they had been used in other crimes. In a statement describing the case, police said the group’s actions demonstrated a “reckless disregard for human life,” pointing to the direction of the shots and the fact that the homes beyond the fence line were occupied.
Those arrested were identified as Darius Chandler and Izac Villarreal, both 19, and Alfredo Jimenez, Draylon Williams and Donavan Wright, all 18, police said. Police said all five face two counts each of deadly conduct and one count each of discharging a firearm in certain municipalities. Chandler, Jimenez and Williams also face one count each of unlawfully carrying a weapon, police said. Jimenez faces an additional count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, police said. Wright and Villarreal each face one count of possession of marijuana, police said.
Police did not describe what led up to the shooting or whether anyone was being targeted. Investigators did not identify a motive, and police did not say whether the teens had any connection to the neighborhood where the gunfire occurred. Authorities have not said whether the shots were fired as part of an argument, as a stunt, or without a clear target. Police also did not provide a count of how many rounds were fired or how long the shooting lasted. Those details can become important later as investigators compare witness accounts, video frames, and any physical evidence recovered from the scene.
The area around Yuma Street and Mississippi Avenue includes closely spaced homes and fencing typical of many Fort Worth neighborhoods. Police said their review of the video showed the gunfire was aimed toward houses beyond a fence line, which means rounds could have traveled into yards and living areas where families were spending a weekend night. In their written description, police emphasized that the direction of the shots was a key part of the criminal allegation. “Officers determined that all five individuals were shooting in the direction of occupied houses beyond the fence line,” police said.
Investigators did not release the names of the residents who called 911 or provide details about how many homes were in the immediate line of fire. Police did not say whether they recovered shell casings from the street or nearby ground, whether any bullets were recovered from structures, or whether forensic testing has been ordered. In cases involving suspected gunfire toward occupied homes, detectives may seek ballistic analysis, gunshot residue testing, and comparisons between seized firearms and any recovered projectiles. Police did not outline what testing, if any, has been requested so far.
Next steps in the case will likely include prosecutors reviewing the surveillance footage, the police reports, and evidence recovered from the vehicle, along with any witness statements. Police did not say whether any of the teens have attorneys or whether bond amounts were set. Future court settings may determine how the charges move forward and whether additional allegations are filed. Police said they will provide updates as more information becomes available, indicating the investigation remains active.
For now, police said the arrests and the seizure of firearms ended an incident that residents described as terrifying. The next expected milestone is the first round of court proceedings where the charges and evidence will be formally addressed.
Author note: Last updated February 17, 2026.