'My heart is broken': Fort Worth police Chief Neil Noakes on recent gun violence across the city
FORT WORTH (CBSNewsTexas.com) - Fort Worth police Chief Neil Noakes says officers are committed to making the city a safe place after a string of shootings occurred this week.
Noakes told CBS News Texas exclusively that although there are investigators working to solve the crimes, they are calling on the community to step forward if they have any information regarding potential suspects.
Police are searching for suspects after multiple people were shot Monday night in the Como neighborhood in Fort Worth.
Several unknown men reportedly started firing into the crowd and then fled the scene. A total of 11 victims have been identified – three have died and eight are at area hospitals in unknown conditions.
The Como community will be coming together for a vigil at the Tarrant County Courthouse, 100 W. Weatherford St., at 7 p.m. Friday night.
"My heart is absolutely broken. I am angry," Noakes said. "There is never a time where mass shooting and City of Fort Worth should be used in the same sentence. It just should not happen."
A physical altercation led to gunfire in Fort Worth, which also happened Monday night, injuring a total of five people.
Monday afternoon, officers responded to a shooting call at the Raising Cane's on Berry Street, where officers found two victims with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two days later, two men were fatally shot by police in Fort Worth. A police officer and an arson investigator were on their way to another call when they saw two armed men in an altercation. They intervened and shot at both of the suspects.
Noakes said the police department is committed to community policing and strengthening relationships.
"There are three main things we are focusing on at the Fort Worth Police Department – safety, wellness, resiliency," Noakes said. "We want safe, healthy resilient communities across Fort Worth. We have to have a safe, healthy, resilient department to get it done. My job is to be sure we are doing everything we can to provide resources and support to be sure people are safe. We know it takes collaboration. It takes all of us."
If you have any information regarding any of the crimes that took place in Fort Worth this week, you can contact police anonymously by clicking here.