The Dallas Police Department has released body camera footage from a deadly shooting that unfolded early Saturday morning in Deep Ellum, leaving 21-year-old Kaylen Fritz dead and another man injured by police gunfire.
Chaos Unfolds on Canton Street
The incident began around 2:20 a.m. on July 5 in a parking lot near 2600 Canton Street, where a violent altercation erupted between two groups. According to investigators, gunfire broke out during the fight, putting multiple people in harm’s way.
Just minutes later, police were flagged down in the 100 block of South Good Latimer Expressway by a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid on the scene, and the wounded man told them more gunfire was happening further south.
As officers made their way toward the scene, they encountered people fleeing the Canton Street lot. There, they discovered Kaylen Fritz, 21, critically injured by gunfire. He was later pronounced dead.
Confrontation with Armed Suspect
Officers then spotted 19-year-old Tevin Valentine standing over Fritz while holding a firearm. Bodycam footage shows Officer Luis Garza-Fuantos and a fellow officer ordering Valentine to drop the weapon. Instead of complying, police say Valentine fled and pointed the gun at Garza-Fuantos.
In response, Garza-Fuantos fired one shot, striking Valentine. He dropped his weapon, and officers immediately provided medical aid. Valentine was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Stolen Gun and Ongoing Investigations
Police later confirmed that the weapon in Valentine’s possession had been reported stolen in 2022 from University Park. Several other firearms were recovered from the scene. No officers were injured during the confrontation.
The case is now under review by the Dallas Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Community Police Oversight.
Victim’s Mother Speaks Out
In an emotional statement to WFAA, Kaylen Fritz’s mother, Cortisha Lyons, shared her grief: “He didn’t get a chance to be a father. He didn’t get a chance to experience fatherhood. He was so excited when he left Friday night. I was excited to let him out.”
As the investigation continues, the released footage has sparked further questions and public attention over the tragic events that unfolded in one of Dallas’s busiest nightlife districts.
