82-year-old mother of Fort Worth council member shot to death through back door of home

An 82-year-old woman recovering from being shot through a back door late Thursday night is the mother of Fort Worth City Councilman Carlos Flores, NBC 5 has learned.

According to the Fort Worth police, around 9 p.m., officers were called to a shooting at a house in the 1400 block of Circle Park Boulevard. MedStar officers and staff arrived and found Graciela Flores with an apparent gunshot wound.

Graciela Flores told police she was at her North Side home in Fort Worth when she said someone came to her back door. She first told the police that she thought it was a relative of hers and gave the man’s name. The woman said that she then heard a gunshot followed by a sudden pain in her stomach and the sight of blood.

“I don’t know if she was shot intentionally or unintentionally, I don’t know. I mean, it will still be part of the investigation, I’m not sure,” Officer Brad Perez said Friday. “I know that there are speculations coming from different people about this and all this, and it is quite natural to assume. Right now, we’re still investigating, and we can’t say for sure what…if there is…motivation there was.”

Rescuers took the woman to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, where her son said she was resting and recuperating Friday afternoon.

Flores’ son, Fort Worth County 2 City Council member Carlos Flores, said in a statement to NBC 5 that his mother was hit by a stray bullet fired from a neighbor’s backyard and that he called 911 while caring for her.

“In the worst of times, we often do our best. Observing the actions and professionalism of our first responders has given my family comfort and reassurance in their time of need,” the council member said in a statement. “Our family has suffered from gun violence and the wrong choice of an irresponsible person, but my family and I are deeply grateful to our police, firefighters, MedStar, and the staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital. In the words of my mother: “You supported us, and we will support you.” We appreciate the prayers of the Fort Worth community for her recovery and continued investigation.”

Mary Jane Berlanga’s sister and father live a few houses away from Flores. Berlanga said she never felt unsafe in the neighborhood, but now she is more vigilant.

“We need to learn to respect and love each other, but we see that this is a forgotten trait these days. It’s unfortunate,” Berlanga said. “This is a world that no longer knows fear. It has no respect. There are no more thoughts even about human life. That’s the sad part of the direction we’re going.”

Officers arrested Jonathan Howard, 35, at approximately 4:30 a.m. at a house on Lincoln Avenue, about two blocks from Flores’ home in Circle Park, according to a police report on the shooting.

Howard was charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a perpetrator. Police did not say how they identified Howard in the shooting or what additional charges he was expected to face. It is not yet clear if Howard has hired a lawyer.

Officials have not released a reason for the shooting. The Fort Worth Police Department is investigating the shooting.

“The persistence and professionalism of the Fort Worth Police Department’s Firearms Enforcement Unit has removed a dangerous individual from our area. The suspect is now in custody. I will not let this bad deed overshadow all the good things in this community,” said Carlos. in a statement.

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