On October 11, 2023, 56-year-old Yolanda Gibbs, a dedicated cafeteria worker at David K. Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill, Texas, was fatally shot in the school's back parking lot just before 7 a.m. Gibbs, who had devoted 30 years to serving students in the Fort Worth Independent School District, was preparing for her workday when the tragic incident occurred. Emergency responders transported her to John Peter Smith Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Investigations revealed that Gibbs had been conversing with someone in a vehicle shortly before the shooting. Authorities identified the suspect as Anthony Harris, 58, who had been in a relationship with Gibbs for approximately two years. Harris had a significant criminal history and was on parole at the time of the incident. Two days after the shooting, on October 13, Harris was found deceased in Fort Worth. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office later determined his cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity. The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The tragic event deeply affected the local community. A vigil was held in Gibbs' honor, where family, friends, colleagues, and students gathered to remember her warm personality and unwavering commitment to the school. Her daughter, Christina Ware, expressed profound grief, emphasizing that Gibbs had been a cornerstone of strength and love for their family. The Fort Worth ISD community continues to mourn the loss of a beloved staff member whose impact was felt by many over her three decades of service.
