Two homicides occur on the same Dallas street hours apart, investigation underway

It was a violent weekend for Dallas's South Oak Cliff neighborhood after two murders happened within hours of each other on the same street, including the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy.

Dallas Police first responded to the 3300 block of Southern Oaks Boulevard just before 9 p.m. after reports of a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the 16-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. The teen was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Five hours later, Dallas Police went back out to the 3500 block of Southern Oaks Boulevard around 2:10 a.m. after a call for service. Upon arrival at an apartment complex, officers found the body of 38-year-old Victor Taylor Jr.

Authorities said Taylor's "unexplained death" was still being investigated, and the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office initially listed his cause of death as a homicide. The medical examiner later determined Taylor had been mortally wounded by gunfire.

Patricia Smith, a nearby resident, said she heard the gunshots from inside her apartment.

“I pray for the family, but it’s happening over here all the time,” said Smith.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, just like that,” Smith said. “And I’m like, oh my gosh.”

Neighbors told NBC 5 the teen’s name was Traylin, and he leaves behind a young child of his own.

Days later, the scene showed signs of an act of violence: in the stairwell below Taylor’s apartment, the walls were marked with bloodstains - too graphic to display.

And the door to the victim’s apartment had been broken in.  

“And that’s sad, that’s sad,” Smith said.

Neighbors said two homicides on their street in the same night was tragic; however, some told NBC 5 that unfortunately they were not surprised.

“I always hear gunshots, but I’m not getting up looking, you know,” Smith said. “But that’s happening over here all the time.”

Officials have not confirmed if both homicides are related to one another. The Dallas Police Department is asking the public to come forward with information about both cases.

Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Detective Timothy Johnston at 214-671-3523 or timothy.johnston@dallaspolice.gov.