Fort Worth Police say the investigation into an altercation and shooting involving police after a July 4th block party is ongoing. Two men were killed and four others were injured by gunfire, though police are still trying to sort out who shot who and what started the fight.
Fort Worth Chief of Police Neil Noakes said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that ballistics reports that will show which bullet came from which gun are not yet completed.
Noakes said in an interview last week that an officer and a Fort Worth Fire Department arson investigator, who is a sworn peace officer with a service weapon, were paired up to investigate illegal firework activity. The chief said Tuesday the officers were responding to a call at about 12:25 a.m. July 5 when they passed a block party at Ross Avenue and 32nd Street and spotted a man who appeared to be injured walking away from another man holding a gun.
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Noakes said the officers stopped and got out of their vehicle and that as they approached the party they said they heard a gunshot. At the same time, Noakes said a woman called 911 to report fighting at the location and while on the phone with dispatchers reported hearing gunfire.
Noakes said after the officer heard the gunshot he picked up his pace and then fired toward an armed person, later identified as 21-year-old Billy Smith, before announcing himself.
The Fort Worth Police Department released an edited version of the bodycam video Tuesday that they said showed the officer approaching the party and firing his service weapon. In the video, the officer can be seen firing three times before being heard saying, "Police, get down!" The officer then fired three more shots. Smith was killed at the scene.
The arson investigator, moving along the officer's left side, reported seeing another man, identified as 30-year-old Bronshay Minter, holding what the chief described as a modified pistol with a light that was shining at the officers and at a person on the ground.
Both the officer and arson investigator then fired on Minter, who fell and then got up and ran. Noakes said a gun and a blackjack sap (a weighted, handheld weapon used to bludgeon people) were found where Minter fell along with shell casings they said matched the weapon. Minter later died of his injuries.
The chief said six people in total were injured by gunfire including the two men who were killed. Three of the injured were hospitalized and the fourth person, who was said to have been beaten, stabbed and shot, left the scene on his own and was not identified by police.
Investigators are awaiting ballistics reports to determine who was shot by which gun.
Noakes said investigators have not yet determined what sparked the fight and they're asking for help from the community with that part of the investigation.
“There was a time when we wouldn’t release any information until we were at the conclusion because there’s a lot to look at. But we now know we want to be transparent. We need to share with the community and share what we do have," Noakes said during Tuesday's press conference. "We want to make sure we do a complete investigation before we make a ruling about anything.”
Police ask that anyone with information about the shooting or altercation, including those who may have video recordings, to please contact the Major Case Unit at 817-392-4430.
The officers involved in the shooting have not been identified. Noakes said the police officer is a 14-year veteran of the department and the arson investigator is a six-year veteran of the fire department. The fire department said the arson investigator has been on the team for six months and prior to joining the fire department was a law enforcement officer for 11 years and is a certified master police officer and military veteran.
Fort Worth Police said the Major Case Unit and Internal Affairs Unit, along with investigators from the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting. Police said the information obtained in the investigation will be shared with the grand jury for review.
FAMILY ASKS FOR POLICE TO RELEASE BODYCAM VIDEO
In the six days since the shooting, the families of the two men who were killed have pleaded with police to share investigative details, including body camera video of the shooting. Before Tuesday, police were hesitant to release information saying the investigation is ongoing.
Family members of the men told NBC 5 they attended a permitted neighborhood fireworks show earlier in the evening and that officers had stopped by more than once to make sure everything was being done lawfully.
Families of the victims said the men were friends and dispute the police department's explanation that the men were fighting. The families said Minter and Smith were gun owners, but do not believe either would have pointed a gun at police.
Smith's mother Cynthia said Tuesday, she wanted the public to stay calm as she searched for answers.
"Right now, we don’t have all the details. We’re going from “he say, she say”…the stories have changed so many times but until the truth comes out, we’ll never know exactly what happened. So, please public…please…stay calm," Smith said.
She is also seeking help for burial expenses for her son.
"I have no way to put my child to rest. I am begging someone, please help me. I just want to put my baby to rest. He was only 21-years-old," she said.
