Late on May 5, 2026, into the early hours of May 6, 26-year-old security guard Joseph Gray was shot and killed while working at La Tardeada nightclub in Deep Ellum. Gray was covering an extra shift; his girlfriend was three months pregnant. After a physical disturbance inside the club, he intervened to try to restore order and was struck once in the chest. Co-workers transported him to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle, but he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses and fellow security staff reportedly subdued the alleged shooter at the scene until Dallas Police arrived. The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Detorius Tarver, taken into custody and charged with murder; police say Tarver later admitted to firing inside the club. La Tardeada closed temporarily while investigators processed the scene and the community responded with tributes outside the venue.

If anyone was at La Tardeada that night or has information about the disturbance that led to this shooting, please come forward with what was seen or heard.