A 3-year-old boy has died after being shot at an apartment complex in South Oak Cliff, Dallas, early Sunday morning, October 11. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, and several key questions remain unanswered.
Officers responded to a shooting call at Oakwood Place Apartments on Wadsworth Drive, near Loop 12 and Interstate 45, at approximately 1 a.m. When they arrived, they found the toddler suffering from a gunshot wound inside an apartment unit.
Officers began lifesaving efforts before Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived. The child was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Neighbors Describe a Distressing Scene
The shooting left nearby residents struggling to understand what had happened. Some neighbors said they heard cries for help during the early-morning hours and saw the child and his mother in the parking lot.
They called 911 and tried to get help for the young boy.
Neighbor Aundra Skinner described the shock of hearing that a child had been shot. The news was especially difficult to process because the victim was only 3 years old.
The incident has also renewed concerns among residents about children’s safety and the dangers associated with firearms.
Family Remembers Boy Known as Mazi
For the child’s family, the loss has brought overwhelming grief. His grandmother, Felicia Kirvin, remembered her grandson, affectionately known as Mazi, as a loving, kind and respectful little boy.
Kirvin said she would especially miss his smile and the happiness he brought to those around him.
She is now facing the painful reality of preparing to bury her grandson, whose life ended before he had the chance to grow up and experience the world.
The family is still searching for answers about the circumstances that led to his death.
Police Continue Investigating the Fatal Shooting
Dallas police are working to determine how the shooting occurred and who fired the weapon. Investigators have not publicly confirmed the circumstances that led to the child being shot.
Child Protective Services was also contacted, and the boy’s mother was taken in for questioning, according to information released about the investigation. Authorities have not publicly established who fired the gun.
The investigation remains ongoing, and important details have yet to be confirmed.
For Mazi’s family, the immediate focus is on grieving a young child remembered for his bright smile and loving personality. As investigators work to establish what happened, relatives are left coping with a loss that has changed their lives forever.
