Shootout in Deep Ellum Leaves One Dead, Multiple Injured
A 19-year-old has been arrested and is facing a murder charge following an overnight weekend shootout between two groups near Deep Ellum that ended with many wounded and one man shot by Dallas police.
Gael Aguilar, 19, faces a murder charge for the death of Caylen Fritz, who died after he was shot in the 100 block of South Good Latimer Expressway on Saturday, police said.
Tevin Valentine was shot by responding officers after he was found standing over Fritz and attempted to run away, Chief Daniel Comeaux said.
Valentine’s family said he and Fritz were best friends.
Crime in The News
Incident Overview
On Saturday, two groups of people were involved in several altercations near the Deep Ellum area around 2:20 a.m., police said.
Officers patrolling the area were flagged down in the 100 block of South Good Latimer Expressway by a person who police said had been shot multiple times.
As officers helped the person, they were informed of gunshots coming from a nearby location. Officers ran south on Good Latimer Expressway and saw people running from the parking lot where the earlier fight had occurred.
Officer-Involved Shooting
Inside the garage, police said they found Valentine with a gun and standing over Fritz, who was on the ground.
In body-camera footage shown at a news conference Tuesday, Officer Luis Garza-Fuantos is heard telling Valentine to put the gun down as Garza-Fuantos approaches.
Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux shares information on an officer involved shooting that occurred on Saturday, July 5, 2025, while at a news conference on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Valentine ran away but then pointed the gun at the officer, who shot the suspect in his lower body, Comeaux said.
Police said the gun Valentine allegedly pointed at the officer had been reported stolen from University Park in 2022.
Victims and Arrests
Six people, including Valentine and Fritz, were shot that night, police said. Fritz died after he was taken to a hospital.
While Valentine was shot after being found with a gun near injured Fritz, the two had been together and were best friends, said Valentine’s sister, Shuminique Valentine. Her brother had been defending them during the shootout, Shuminique said.
“The people on the other side was shooting his people; he was the only one that could try to protect them,” she said.
Aguilar was arrested Wednesday and is being held at the Dallas County jail, police said.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the need for increased safety measures in the Deep Ellum area, particularly during late-night hours. The community is urged to come together to prevent such violent incidents in the future.
FAQs
Q: What happened in Deep Ellum on Saturday?
A: A shootout between two groups occurred, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.
Q: Who was arrested and charged with murder?
A: Gael Aguilar, 19, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of Caylen Fritz.
Q: What happened to Tevin Valentine?
A: Valentine was shot by responding officers after he was found standing over Fritz and attempted to run away. He was also found to be in possession of a stolen gun.
Q: How many people were injured in the shootout?
A: Six people, including Valentine and Fritz, were shot during the incident.
