How to help family of Arlington firefighter shot, injured during welfare check
An Arlington firefighter who was shot while working is doing well but still in significant pain, according to a news release from the Arlington firefighters’ union.
The Arlington Professional Fire Fighters association said it is working to help support Brady Weaver’s wife and two children at home as he is recovering.
Doctors are optimistic about that recovery, according to the Arlington Professional Fire Fighters. The association is asking for donations to its charity through Zelle, with the email address secretarytreasurer@arlingtonprofessionalfirefighters.org, through Venmo and Paypal or by mailing a check to APFF Charitable Fund at 208 S. Fielder Road, Arlington, Texas, 76013.
Brady Weaver was shot just before 1 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Bardin Greene Drive, where he was sent to conduct a welfare check, the Arlington police and fire departments said in a news release. A resident called 911 and reported hearing children crying for an extended period in a neighboring apartment. They were calling for their mother to wake up.
Firefighters, along with police and paramedics, went to the apartment and knocked on the door, according to Arlington police. There was no answer but responders could hear children’s voices inside the apartment continuing to cry for their mother to wake up. After about five minutes of police knocking on the door, the decision was made to enter the apartment for fear that someone might have been injured or in need of emergency medical attention.
The responders began to force entry into the apartment after repeatedly knocking and announcing their presence, with firefighters using a breach tool to pry open the door, the fire department said. Police continued announcing their presence. Someone inside the apartment fired a single shot through the door, police said. Weaver, who was at the door, was hit.
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Weaver and other first responders fled and took cover, according to the fire department. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition with serious injuries. No additional shots were fired and nobody else was injured, according to police.
Officers gave commands for everyone inside the apartment to come out and a man, woman and two children complied, police said. Detectives questioned and arrested the man, who the fire department said it believes to be the shooter.
Police said the man told them that he and his girlfriend were asleep and they woke to the sounds of firefighters trying to breach the door. The man told investigators he thought someone was trying to break in and he fired his gun and told his girlfriend to call 911. Police confirmed that the woman did call 911 after the shot was fired.
Investigators are consulting with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the man in connection to the shooting. Police said he was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as well as unrelated warrants from two other cities. Jail records identified the man as Demetric Brooks, who was released on $25,000 bond.
