Three people are dead and a fourth injured after a shootout at a West Dallas short-term rental early Tuesday morning, police said.
The incident occurred when uninvited guests arrived at a large house party around midnight on the 3700 block of Vilbig Road, according to the Dallas Police Department. A group arrived at the front door, leading to a physical altercation that quickly escalated, DPD said.
Police believe the victims were bystanders caught in the crossfire between the group at the entrance and individuals inside the house.
Dallas Police arrived at the two-story residence a little after midnight. As many as 50-150 people were fleeing the scene, while inside the home, officers discovered three victims, according to DPD.
A man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene and a third victim died after being transported to a nearby hospital. A fourth victim arrived in a private vehicle to the hospital, seeking care for a gunshot wound to the buttocks.
No arrests have been made and no suspect descriptions are currently available. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
Pastor Earl D. Thomas, founder and lead pastor of The Mountain Top church located a few blocks from the shooting scene, said the violence has left the community shaken.
"It's hard, it's heartbreaking," Thomas said. "It seems as if every quarter, every other quarter, something is going on. I'm trying to see why we are still suffering from this.
The incident occurred at a short-term rental, or STR. STRs have faced pushback in recent years from locals.
In October, Dallas asked the Texas Supreme Court to allow restrictions against STR operators after a lower court struck down a pair of ordinances meant to limit where those properties can operate.
The city argued STRs negatively impact neighborhoods by bringing in loud parties, litter and parking issues.
Other cities including Fort Worth, Richardson, Garland and North Richland Hills have put similar restrictions in place.
Thomas said residents in the area have long voiced concerns about short-term rentals and feel they lack influence in decisions surrounding them.
"It's been a very big issue," Thomas said. "You have those investors who have way more money than the people in the community. So what are the people of the community supposed to do with a few hundred dollars versus millions?"
The Dallas shooting isn't the first to occur at a North Texas STR. In 2023, two people in Plano were arrested after a shooting in which a bullet went through the window of a 3-year-old’s playroom. No one was injured. Police say the shooting began at a party in a STR.
Thomas said incidents like Tuesday's shooting deepen existing trauma in the neighborhood.
"It puts another bullet hole in an already shot up space," Thomas said. "Figuratively, and now so literally."
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Alexsis Jones is a reporter and producer for KERA News. Got a tip? Email Alexsis at ajones@kera.org.
Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela is KERA's breaking news reporter. Got a tip? Email Emmanuel at erivas@kera.org.
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