After a slew of shootings Halloween night, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Northern District of Texas announced the launch of “Operation Deep Cover,” a coordinated law enforcement effort to “curb violent crime in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood.”
In his announcement on Monday, Raybould noted that the operation will involve federal, state, and local law enforcement resources, and listed repeat felon Treyveion Dionte Demby as “an example of the type of conduct Operation Deep Cover is designed to target.”
Three shootings that left four dead and around 15 injured occurred in the Deep Ellum entertainment district late Saturday night, according to local reporting. Three of the victims have been identified as 25-year-old Anthony McCleary, 21-year-old Kaniesa Scott, and 28-year-old Unique Elise Benjamin.
No officers were injured, and Dallas Chief of Police Daniel Comeaux praised officer response during the attacks. It is currently unclear what motivated the shootings.
“This is completely unacceptable for it to take place in Dallas,” Comeaux stated. “We’re going to do everything that we need to do to get everyone in custody that’s responsible for this.”
Deep Ellum has developed a reputation for gun violence associated with its nightlife.
One of the shootings occurred around 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of Main Street, on the outskirts of Deep Ellum. A Dallas police officer responding to reports of gunfire at that time observed Treyveion Demby “dressed in black clothing and wearing a black ski mask while pointing a handgun toward Main Street.” Demby was subsequently subdued by taser and arrested after initially refusing to surrender his firearm and attempting to flee.
Demby was previously convicted in Dallas County of four counts of aggravated robbery and was given a sentence of 10 years in 2020, but was released on parole in late September 2025. He has been charged with “unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon” after his recent arrest, but has not been charged with firing the weapon or committing any of the killings.
“Deep Ellum is a place for people to enjoy themselves, not a place for criminals to terrorize the community with gunfire,” Raybould stated in regards to Demby’s arrest and the Halloween shootings. “This arrest sends a clear message: those who bring illegal firearms into our neighborhoods and put lives at risk will be held accountable.”
“ATF will continue working shoulder to shoulder with the Dallas Police Department, using every investigative tool available to identify violent offenders, get illegal guns off our streets, and help bring them to justice,” Raybould added.
According to FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock, the purpose of Operation Deep Cover is to combat “the violent crime that the Deep Ellum community has faced” by leveraging “partnerships among state, federal, and local law enforcement, and community members, in order to reduce violent crime and increase community safety.”
The operation will utilize uniformed and plainclothes officers in Deep Ellum to “provide a visible presence to deter violence,” while also ensuring potential criminals “cannot tell when they are being watched.”
Increased resources, strengthened communication and coordination, aggressive federal prosecution, case review, and a dedicated intake team to “help ensure that no eligible case is overlooked” are all actions the operation will take to carry out its mission.
Officers and agents from the FBI, ATF, DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Dallas Police Department have all been recruited into the operation.
“Deep Ellum is a vibrant part of Dallas, and the people who live, work, and visit here deserve to feel safe,” Raybould stated. “Operation Deep Cover reflects our commitment to working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to drive down violent crime and hold violent offenders accountable. We will use every federal tool available to protect this community.”
