A broken ankle and the use of a false name at a Dallas hospital helped police identify the man accused of shooting seven people in the Deep Ellum entertainment district on Halloween night.
David Dashaun Yancy surrendered to the Dallas Police Fugitive Unit on 4 November, after seeing footage of himself on the television programme Trackdown. He was arrested at an apartment in Garland and remains in custody.
The shooting happened shortly after 1am on 1 November at 2626 Main Street, where crowds had gathered to celebrate Halloween. Seven people were wounded, although their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Deep Ellum shooting suspect identified through hospital records
According to an arrest affidavit, a tipster told detectives that the suspected gunman had injured his ankle during the incident and had later gone to hospital. The woman also described him as wearing a grey hoodie and gave police the name of a witness who had been with him.
Investigators then found records from Baylor Medical Center showing that a man had arrived with an ankle injury, wearing grey clothing and no shoes. He had registered under the name “David Jones”.
Police matched that alias to Yancy, who they say had used the same false name during a traffic stop in 2024. The affidavit states that he was identified through witness accounts, anonymous tips and CCTV footage.
Federal court documents say security cameras showed Yancy removing a handgun from his waistband before appearing to rack it and conceal it again. Further footage allegedly captured him firing into the crowd in several directions, striking at least seven people.
Investigators recovered 11 fired 9mm cartridge casings and projectiles from the scene. Prosecutors have also filed a federal complaint accusing Yancy, a convicted felon, of possessing a firearm and ammunition; he could face up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. ([justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/alleged-deep-ellum-halloween-shooter-charged-federally-law-enforcement-ramps-operation))
He is also facing seven state charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The allegations have not been tested in court and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Police have not established a clear motive. One victim told detectives that a friend had been involved in a physical confrontation earlier in the night, but investigators are continuing to examine what led to the gunfire.
The Main Street shooting was one of three separate incidents reported in Deep Ellum over a period of about 75 minutes. Four people were killed and around 15 others injured across the wider outbreak of Halloween violence.
Federal, state and local agencies have since launched Operation Deep Cover, bringing additional uniformed and plain-clothes officers into the district and reviewing violent-crime cases dating back to 2024.
