Dallas community in shock as neighbor’s rampage ends in tragedy and manhunt

A quiet neighbourhood in Dallas is grappling with shock and grief after a horrifying incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon, leaving four people dead, including a one-year-old boy. The tragedy began when a neighbour entered a home and unleashed a barrage of gunfire, prompting a swift response from the Dallas Police Department.

The assailant, identified as 21-year-old Byron Carrillo, left three adults dead at the scene—Vanessa De La Cruz (20), Karina Lopez (33), and Jose Lopez (50). The gunman also targeted a 15-year-old girl and an infant, both rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Sadly, the one-year-old, Logan De La Cruz, did not survive, while the teenager is currently in stable condition.

Byron Carrillo, previously charged with aggravated assault in 2021, fled the scene after the shooting, sparking a 24-hour manhunt. Wearing an ankle monitor related to prior charges, Carrillo removed it before or after the incident. The assailant stole a car, leading officers on a pursuit along I-35, which concluded with Carrillo crashing into a ditch near Austin.

As law enforcement closed in, Carrillo turned the weapon on himself, succumbing to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident marked the 627th mass shooting in the country this year, as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.

Authorities have reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat, treating the incident as an isolated tragedy. The shooting occurred in Rylie, a Dallas neighbourhood previously an unincorporated community.

The sister of Karina Lopez and aunt of Vanessa De La Cruz expressed disbelief and sorrow, stating, “It hasn’t sunk in, I mean I wish they were still here, but I can’t believe they’re not.” The victims’ names join the grim statistics, with Logan De La Cruz becoming the 272nd child aged 11 or under killed in a shooting this year.

The incident has left the community in mourning, raising questions about the prevalent issue of gun violence in the country.