Violent crime jumped in Fort Worth by 14 percent and some crimes, such as murder, soared much higher, according to new numbers announced Tuesday.
In the first three months of 2017, murders were 69-percent higher than one year earlier.
Aggravated assaults, which include shootings, increased 15 percent.
Sexual assaults went up 24 percent.
The statistics were given to Fort Worth City Council members Tuesday.
Several council members expressed concern over a mass shooting Friday night. Seven people were shot and two of them were killed on Fort Worth's southside.
Police have made no arrests.
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Assistant Police Chief Ken Dean said gang violence is partly to blame for the rising crime and that police are trying to find new ways to combat it.
"We're evaluating what we've done. We're looking at the next steps and taking the good and the bad," he said.
A recent violent crime task force, in which a large number of officers swarmed high-crime areas, has been put on hold, he said.
"We got a long, hot summer and long, hot summers are going to be difficult for you," said Council Member Jungus Jordan.
"We need the citizens to be just as engaged and involved as police," said Council Member Kelly Allen Gray.
