A Fort Worth makeup artist was among the victims killed in two separate shootings in the city on July 4, the woman’s fiancé said in an interview with the Star-Telegram on Friday.
Tasha Hymond, 39, and her fiance, Tommy Howard, were celebrating the holiday at her parents’ home when gunfire broke out Thursday night on Castleman Street, Howard said.
Howard described Hymond as one of the best makeup artists in the city, saying she was loved by her more than 1,000 clients in Fort Worth.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved owner, Latasha,” Hymond’s company, Slay by Shae, said in a statement, adding that the business is temporarily closed.
After his previous fiancée died of cancer four years ago, Howard said, Hymond helped him get through a lot.
Tributes to Hymond appeared on social media throughout Friday.
“Rest in paradise to my baby,” Howard wrote alongside a photo of the two.
According to police, the shooting began after a crowd of 200 to 300 people occupied several blocks of Castleman Street, including some who threw fireworks at neighboring homes.
Hymond was live-streaming the events of the party leading up to the shooting on social media.
In a video on his Facebook page, a firework explodes just meters from a police car with lights on.
Police said another person died at the scene after suffering a medical emergency. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Marcus Martin Jr., 26, of San Diego, California. His cause of death is pending an autopsy.
At least two other shooting victims in Fort Worth’s east neighborhood were taken to hospitals and were expected to survive, police said.
Police believe there are multiple suspects in the case, but have not identified any persons of interest.
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch Tarrant County Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
