Jago Times "English Edition" Best Online Newspaper
An Arlington resident is being charged with aggravated assault following an incident where he allegedly shot and critically injured a firefighter who was responding to a welfare call early Friday morning.
According to police reports, emergency responders were dispatched to an apartment on the 400 block of Bardin Greene Drive around 12:43 a.m. after a 911 call reported hearing children crying in a neighboring unit and urging their mother to wake up.
Despite repeated attempts to make contact by knocking on the door and identifying themselves, officers received no response. Concerned for the occupants’ well-being, first responders decided to force entry into the apartment.
As a firefighter was attempting to open the door, someone inside the apartment fired a gun through the door, striking firefighter Brady Weaver, who was stationed at the entrance. Upon hearing the gunshot, all responders retreated, including Weaver, who managed to withdraw on his own before being transported to a nearby hospital.
Arlington Fire Chief Bret Stidham confirmed that Weaver, a six-year veteran of the department, sustained critical injuries but was in stable condition and responsive. He also assured that Weaver’s recovery was progressing positively.
Following the shooting, authorities successfully apprehended the occupants of the apartment—a man, a woman, and two children—without further incident. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after claiming he mistook the first responders’ efforts to enter the residence as a break-in attempt. Police indicated that they would consult with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office to determine if additional charges are warranted.
Fortunately, no additional shots were fired, and the woman inside the apartment, who was identified as the children’s caretaker, did not require medical attention. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.