A Fort Worth family is grappling with unanswered questions after their loved one was fatally shot in what appears to be a random act of violence.
Lee Douglas, 36, was shot while leaving work on Trinity Boulevard early in the morning of May 30. Despite being initially reported as facing non-life-threatening injuries, Douglas passed away in the hospital on Tuesday, 12 days after the incident.
“For it to be as random as it was, and then the fact that there’s no information on it, they’re sugarcoating it,” said Robin Sims, one of Douglas’s sisters. “My brother lost his life.”
According to Fort Worth police, Douglas was walking to his car outside Refresco Beverages when he was shot in the back and then in the face while on the ground.
Douglas’s injuries were more severe than initially described by police, with him requiring intubation in the ICU. He ultimately succumbed to a brain clot.
“So yeah, that whole ‘non-life-threatening’ was sugarcoating it in my words I guess,” Sims commented.
Police have arrested 18-year-old Decan Mederios in connection with the incident. The family’s concerns were heightened when they learned from investigators’ case files that another man was also listed as a victim in the incident. Mederios faces four counts of Aggravated Assault.
Douglas’s coworkers reported hearing additional gunshots while waiting for paramedics, leading the family to believe that the full scope of the incident hasn’t been disclosed.
“We got more information from my brother when he was able to get the tubes out than we did from detectives or anything,” Sims added.
Responding to inquiries, Fort Worth PD stated, “This appears to be a random shooting from a person not from Texas who was just passing through.” When asked about other victims, police declined to provide further details at this time.
“It’s been the latest tragedy for this family, as Douglas’s sister was murdered last year,” expressed Aushalay Meadows, Douglas’s sister. “I’m tired of burying my siblings, I’m tired of burying family members. And my brother didn’t deserve this.”
As they prepare for Douglas’s funeral, the family remains hopeful for more clarity from the ongoing investigation.
A spokesperson for the Fort Worth Police Department assured that the incident is under active investigation, with hopes of uncovering more information in the coming days.
