City of Fort Worth, TX

04/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/07/2026 15:54

Council briefed on City’s illegal gunfire campaign

Council briefed on City's illegal gunfire campaign

Published on April 07, 2026

Dr. Sana Syed, the City of Fort Worth's chief communications officer, and Police Chief Eddie Garcia presented the proposed illegal gunfire communications campaign to councilmembers at the Tuesday work session on April 7.

Chief Garcia kicked off the presentation by outlining the background and purpose of the campaign, citing an increase in arrests related to illegal gunfire from 2024 to 2025. Chief Garcia also noted that the average age of most suspects involved in illegal gunfire is 16 to 23 years old.

Stray bullet incidents often spike around July 4th, New Year's Eve and major sporting events; however, Chief Garcia stressed that this is a year-round issue affecting residents citywide.

"We as a police department and as a city take this seriously," Chief Garcia said. "We do not see this as celebratory. We see it as a potential and/or violent crime."

The primary objectives of the campaign are to:

  • Reduce stray bullet incidents by increasing community understanding of the risks and consequences of reckless gun use.
  • Reassure residents and community members that the City is taking action to put a stop to stray bullet incidents and will not tolerate illegal gun violence.
  • Establish a culture of safety, community intolerance and active engagement regarding illegal gunfire in Fort Worth.
To achieve these goals, the City will use a variety of methods to communicate and educate residents citywide, with an emphasis on communicating in areas that have a higher number of gunfire incidents. The City will also work closely with school districts to share educational materials with parents and students. Outreach and education efforts will also increase leading up to major holidays, specifically July 4th and New Year's Eve.
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