Arlington, Texas – An Arlington firefighter was shot while responding to a welfare check at the Bardin Greene Apartments, situated off I-20 and Matlock Road. The man accused of the shooting, Demetric Brooks, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently held in the Tarrant County Jail.
The sequence of events unfolded when a concerned resident contacted 911 upon hearing children crying and pleading for their mother to wake up in a neighboring apartment. Responding to the call, Arlington police, firefighters, and American Medical Response personnel arrived at the scene. Despite announcing their presence for over five minutes and hearing the distressed calls of children inside, there was no response from the apartment.
Determined to ensure the well-being of the occupants, first responders opted to enter the apartment using a breaching tool. During the attempt to open the door, firefighter Brady Weaver was shot from within the apartment. Weaver, who has served the Arlington Fire Department for six years, was promptly taken to Medical City Arlington. He is reported to be alert and in good spirits following the incident.
The situation was deescalated as a man, a woman, and two children exited the apartment without further incident. Brooks, 27, was arrested, and the case is under review by the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. Arlington Assistant Police Chief Tarrick McGuire provided insight into the shooter’s perspective, noting that Brooks, asleep in the apartment with his girlfriend, mistook the first responders for intruders. This misunderstanding led to the unfortunate shooting, following which Brooks’s girlfriend called 911, confirming their perception of a break-in attempt.
This incident highlights the risks faced by first responders and the tragic potential for misunderstandings in high-stress situations. The community’s thoughts are with firefighter Weaver as he recovers, and with all those affected by this distressing event.
