Joppa Community Questions Police Response After Park Shooting

Shooting Incident at South Central Park

• 🎯 A shooting occurred at South Central Park in Dallas's Joppa neighborhood on Saturday evening, near the intersection of 45 and Loop 12.
• 👥 Witnesses reported a group of men shooting at another man on the basketball court just before 8 PM.

Witness Accounts and Aid Provided

• 🆘 Retired veteran Donald Gilder and other witnesses rushed to provide aid to the victim.
• 🩹 They performed chest compressions and attempted to stop bleeding, with Gilder stating, "He were dying in my hand."
• 🗣️ The victim repeatedly expressed fears of dying, to which Gilder responded with reassurance.

Concerns Over Police Response Time

• ⏱️ Several witnesses claim it took Dallas police over 30 minutes to arrive at the scene.
• ❓ One witness questioned the response time, sarcastically asking if officers were at a "7-Eleven getting a Big Gulp."
• ⚖️ Community advocate Dr. Claudia Fowler highlighted response times as an ongoing issue, questioning if the location impacted the speed of police arrival.

Official Police Statement and Community President's View

• 🚓 DPD stated they received the call at 8:22 PM, reported suspects wearing masks and black clothing, and arrived 11 minutes later, arresting two suspects.
• ⚠️ This 11-minute response is within their average for Priority One calls but below their stated goal.
• 🤝 Neighborhood President Shelandrea Gallamore believes the issue might lie with 911 operators, suggesting a need for sensitivity training or improved follow-up procedures.

Community Safety and Future Concerns

• 📈 As summer approaches and the community grows, residents are concerned about an upgrade in security.
• 🏘️ The community desires to feel safer, especially with ongoing issues of response times.