Dallas police said the shootings happened hours apart and did not appear to be connected.
DALLAS, TX — Two shootings in Deep Ellum late Tuesday and early Wednesday left a 26-year-old security guard dead and five other people wounded, Dallas police said as detectives worked separate crime scenes in the city’s entertainment district.
The violence drew a large police response to one of Dallas’ busiest nightlife areas and led officers to shut down parts of Deep Ellum after the second shooting. Police identified the security guard as Joseph Gray and said 23-year-old Detorius Tarver was arrested on a murder charge. The shooter in the first case remained at large Wednesday.
Officers were first sent about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday to the 2900 block of Commerce Street, near Malcolm X Boulevard, where police spokesman Corbin Rubinson said five people had been struck by gunfire. Three victims were found at the scene and taken to a hospital. Two more people later arrived at a hospital by private vehicle, and investigators believe they were wounded in the same shooting. Police said all five were expected to survive. Detectives said that shooting likely began with an altercation among several people, but some of those hit may have been bystanders caught in the gunfire. No arrests had been announced in that case.
As officers worked the Commerce Street scene, witnesses alerted police to another shooting nearby. Police said the second shooting was reported around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday at La Tardeada Club in the 2800 block of Elm Street, near North Crowdus Street. Officers found Gray suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Police said he was taken to a hospital by private vehicle and later died. Investigators said Tarver had been involved in a physical disturbance inside the club and that Gray was trying to break up the fight when Tarver shot him at close range. Tarver was taken into custody at the scene.
Police said the two shootings happened only blocks apart but were being investigated as unrelated. In the first case, detectives were reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to learn whether the victims knew one another and how the dispute began. In the second case, officers said they had identified both Gray and Tarver, and Tarver was booked into the Dallas County jail. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Tarver had an attorney. Police had not released the names, ages or conditions of the five wounded people beyond saying their injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.
Deep Ellum, east of downtown Dallas, is known for its bars, restaurants, clubs and live music venues. The neighborhood draws heavy foot traffic late at night, especially around Elm, Main and Commerce streets. The shootings come as public safety in the district has remained a concern for residents, business owners and city leaders after past episodes of late-night violence. Police have increased visibility in the area at times, and officers were already nearby when the second shooting was reported because they were processing the first scene.
The next steps in the Commerce Street case include witness interviews, video review and the search for an unidentified shooter. Police said no one had been arrested in that case as of Wednesday morning. In Gray’s death, Tarver faces a murder charge, and the case is expected to move through Dallas County’s criminal court process after jail booking and an initial court appearance. Police had not announced any additional charges tied to the club shooting. Investigators also had not said whether any weapon was recovered or whether more people were being sought.
The overnight scenes stretched across several blocks of Deep Ellum, with officers, police tape and emergency vehicles surrounding parts of the district. At Commerce Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, investigators focused on the spot where multiple people were hit. Near Elm Street, officers moved to the club area after the report that a security guard had been shot. Dallas police said Gray was trying to stop a disturbance when he was killed. The department said the first shooting remained open, with detectives still trying to determine who fired and what role each person at the scene played.
By Wednesday morning, Gray was dead, five people were recovering, one suspect was jailed and another shooting suspect remained unidentified. Dallas police said the investigations were continuing, with surveillance video and witness statements expected to guide the next public update.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.