Cory Dajuan Dixon Goode, an 18-year-old male, was killed during a mass shooting late on July 4, 2026, at the Wheatley Courts Apartments on San Antonio's East Side. Family members and other residents had gathered for an Independence Day barbecue, and children were outside setting off fireworks when gunfire suddenly erupted near the apartment building in the 1700 block of Lamar Street, close to North Mittman Street and Phillis Wheatley Park.
The shooting was reported at approximately 10:45
p.m. Investigators said several people approached the complex on foot and began firing toward a residence and a crowd gathered outside. Police initially reported that three individuals were seen walking through the area before opening fire. Authorities also investigated evidence suggesting that someone near the apartment complex may have returned fire. Nearly 80 spent shell casings were reportedly recovered, reflecting the large number of rounds discharged during the attack.
Bullets struck people both outside the building and inside nearby apartments. Goode suffered gunshot wounds and was rushed to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The Bexar County Medical Examiner later confirmed his identity and ruled his death a homicide.
Five other people were wounded, including girls who were 5 and 12 years old, a 22-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and another adult victim. The injured were initially described as being in critical but stable condition. The older child remained hospitalized in intensive care several days later, while the younger child was expected to recover. The wounded young man was subsequently released from the hospital. Police emphasized that the children were not believed to have been intended targets.
San Antonio police characterized the gunfire as a targeted attack rather than a random shooting. Then-Police Chief William McManus said investigators believed one person among those struck was the intended target, although authorities did not publicly identify that person or explain the motive. Goode's relatives expressed uncertainty about why the gathering was attacked and described the violence as an unexpected assault on family members celebrating the holiday.
One wounded person was initially identified by police as a possible suspect. Another person was taken into custody for investigative purposes, while officers continued searching for an additional suspected participant. Several other individuals were detained and questioned as detectives attempted to determine who fired weapons and whether the shooting involved an exchange of gunfire.
Despite those detentions, police had not announced any formal arrests or criminal charges in connection with Goode's killing as of the latest publicly available reports. Authorities said they had identified a person of interest and were still seeking at least one other suspect. Police increased patrols around the complex and installed mobile surveillance cameras as the search continued. The names of the possible suspects were not publicly released, and no trial or conviction had occurred because the homicide investigation remained active.
