Dallas shooting: Federal and local officials urge suspects to surrender
Police say they have identified individuals involved in a Halloween weekend incident that left seven people injured.
By Ella Cox ·
Dallas police and federal prosecutors issued a direct warning on Wednesday to individuals involved in a shooting in Deep Ellum, stating that investigators possess surveillance video and photographs identifying the suspects. Authorities advised that those who voluntarily cooperate now may receive more favorable treatment than those who wait to be arrested.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Northern District of Texas and Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux made the announcement as part of Operation Deep Cover. This joint federal, state, and local initiative launched three days prior to the press conference to address violence in the neighborhood.
Raybould stated that surveillance footage showed a suspect pulling a handgun from his waistband and firing 11 rounds into a crowd of hundreds. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Raybould noted that another person appeared to communicate with the shooter before the gunfire and that investigators are examining the roles of others present that night.
Thirty-one-year-old David Yancy has been charged with seven counts of aggravated assault for the mass shooting, a first-degree felony. He also faces a federal firearms charge. Raybould confirmed that Yancy has surrendered to authorities. In a separate federal case, Treyveion Dionte Demby, who has four previous aggravated robbery convictions, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Officials said Demby allegedly pointed a loaded handgun toward Main Street during the violence, though they have not directly linked his arrest to the Yancy case.
Chief Comeaux emphasized that additional video and photographic evidence continues to arrive. He told suspects that the first person to come forward typically receives the best deal. Two other shootings from the same weekend remain under active investigation.
To manage the area, Dallas police plan additional street closures in Deep Ellum for this coming weekend. Officers intend to enforce stricter rules against loitering in parking lots. Comeaux encouraged visitors to go to established businesses to eat, drink, or dance, stating that the department will not allow people to hang out in parking lots.
