DALLAS — Tragedy for residents along Southern Oaks Boulevard has become too familiar, but the answers as to why are still distant.
“Why? Why are they doing this? I don’t know. I can’t even tell you myself,” said a resident at the Signature at Southern Oaks Boulevard apartments. She wanted to remain anonymous. She has lived at the complex for years and has seen the gun violence.
One of the latest incidents happened Friday night around 9 p.m. Dallas Police responded to a shooting inside the complex. The anonymous resident said she first heard arguing and then gunfire.
“Just pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. Just kept going,” said the resident. “It was a gentleman hollering for some reason. Then I heard another, about two more rounds and that was it.”
Police identified the victim as 16-year-old Trelynn Derrion Henderson.
“Another one. Just another one,” said CJ Bell, another apartment resident.
Henderson is the second child killed in that complex that Bell has experienced in just over a year. An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed in January of last year. He was an innocent bystander when a nearby fight escalated.
“Something needs to happen because things like that happen all the time. It’s just sad. There are kids who are dying,” said Bell.
Neighbors tell WFAA Henderson’s body was found near a picnic table in the complex’s courtyard. They said a lot of kids play there, which is their main concern.
“They need to have cameras because it’s very very important. Innocent people could get hurt for no reason,” said the anonymous resident.
It's a fear and a reminder because about five hours later and blocks away, a second shooting happened along the same street. Dallas Police said they found the body of 38-year-old Victor Taylor who had been shot.
Dallas Police told WFAA that they do not believe Taylor’s death or Henderson’s are related. Both remain under investigation.
“People please put your guns down because we don’t need that. It’s not necessary to use guns for just little minor things when you can talk about it or pray about it,” said the anonymous resident. “I’m praying that people do better.”
It is a prayer that she is still hoping will be answered.