A Dallas man accused of opening fire into a crowd of people in Dallas’ Deep Ellum entertainment district has been federally charged with illegally possessing a firearm. This comes as law enforcement officials ramp up a coordinated crackdown on violent crime.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould announced Thursday that David Dashaun Yancy, 27, was charged by federal criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Yancy surrendered to the Dallas Police Department on November 4 and remains in custody.
According to court documents, Dallas police responded to reports of gunfire around 1 a.m. November 1, where officers found seven people suffering from gunshot wounds. All seven victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Surveillance footage obtained by investigators allegedly showed Yancy pulling a handgun from his waistband, preparing the weapon, and concealing it before later firing into the crowd in multiple directions. Investigators recovered 11 fired 9mm cartridge casings and projectiles from the scene.
Witness interviews, anonymous tips, and surveillance footage led detectives to identify Yancy as the alleged shooter. Authorities also found that he had a prior felony conviction in Dallas County and was on felony deferred adjudication probation for child endangerment at the time of the shooting. He also had an active warrant for a probation violation.
The federal charge comes days after Raybould announced Operation Deep Cover, a coordinated law enforcement initiative targeting violent crime and illegal firearms in Dallas entertainment and commercial districts.
The operation brings together federal, state, and local agencies, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Dallas Police Department.
“When we launched Operation Deep Cover, we made an unequivocal promise: anyone who terrorizes our neighborhoods will face the full weight of the federal government,” Raybould stated Thursday. “In less than one week, our task forces have already produced multiple federal charges—including holding accountable an alleged gunman whose reckless actions wrought violence and terror to Deep Ellum.”
Yancy faces up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Aulbaugh is prosecuting the case.
