FORT WORTH, TX — In the early hours of June 15, 2025, a night meant for celebration turned into a nightmare on the 3700 block of North Houston Street. A vibrant house party, filled with laughter and youthful energy, was shattered by gunfire, leaving 19-year-old Anthony Luis Rangel dead and two others wounded. Now, the Fort Worth Police Department and the devastated Rangel family are joining forces in a desperate plea for answers, seeking a suspect who has fled Texas and is believed to be hiding in California.
The tragedy unfolded around 12:30 a.m. on Father’s Day, as officers from the Fort Worth Police Department’s Northwest Division raced to the scene after reports of a shooting. They arrived to a chaotic scene: two individuals lay wounded, struck by bullets in a senseless act of violence. Emergency responders rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, but for Anthony Rangel, a young man who had just celebrated his 19th birthday days earlier, the injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at John Peter Smith Hospital, leaving behind a family and community in mourning. The two other victims, one transported by ambulance and another by private vehicle, are expected to survive their injuries.
What should have been a joyous gathering—a graduation party, according to Anthony’s aunt, Lucy Rangel—descended into chaos when an argument spiraled out of control. Detectives pieced together the events: two women were embroiled in a heated dispute over one of the shooting victims, a friend of Anthony’s. As tensions boiled over, unknown individuals arrived at the party, and a physical altercation erupted. Amid the chaos, a male suspect drew a firearm and unleashed a barrage of bullets, striking Anthony and two others. Witnesses recall the terror as partygoers scrambled for cover, some hiding under vehicles in a desperate bid for safety. Anthony, described by his girlfriend Tierra Varela as a gentle soul who was trying to de-escalate the conflict, was tragically caught in the crossfire while attempting to help his friend.
“He was so gentle and kind to me,” Tierra shared, her voice heavy with grief. “He had such a good heart. He looked out for everybody.” According to Tierra, Anthony was in the process of ordering an Uber to send the arguing parties home, hoping to diffuse the situation. Instead, the night ended with his life cut short, his dreams of becoming a welder and building a future with Tierra left unfulfilled.
The suspect, identified by authorities as 28-year-old Daleshawn “Bolo” Hopson, fled the scene in a vehicle, vanishing into the night. As the investigation deepened, Fort Worth police received credible intelligence that Hopson may have left Texas, seeking refuge on the West Coast. With known ties to Stockton, California, as well as Washington State and Fort Worth, investigators believe he may be hiding with family or associates. The Fort Worth Police Department’s Homicide Unit is now intensifying its efforts, combing through leads and urging the public to come forward with any information that could bring Hopson to justice.
For the Rangel family, the loss is unimaginable. Anthony was a bright light, adventurous and full of ambition. He had recently traveled with Tierra to Chicago for a baby shower, visited Disneyland in California, and sped across the waters of Turks and Caicos on a jet ski, laughing with the joy of youth. “Anthony was not the intended target,” Lucy Rangel emphasized, her voice trembling with resolve. “My purpose now has changed to finding out who killed our boy.” A GoFundMe page created by Tierra’s mother echoes the family’s anguish: “What was meant to be a celebration of Anthony’s 19th birthday turned into a nightmare no family should ever face. He had dreams, ambition, and a heart full of love.”
The Fort Worth community, still reeling from a violent Father’s Day weekend that saw five lives lost in unrelated shootings across the city, is rallying behind the Rangel family. Police are emphasizing that no tip is too small—whether from someone who was at the party, overheard a conversation, or has knowledge of Hopson’s whereabouts. “If Anthony were here,” Tierra said, “he would tell them it didn’t have to be this way. They could have just helped get the girls home.”
As the investigation continues, the Fort Worth Police Department is urging anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at (817) 392-4330 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (817) 469-TIPS. The Rangel family’s plea is simple yet profound: help bring justice for Anthony, a young man whose life was stolen in a moment of senseless violence. In a city searching for healing, the hope is that community cooperation will lead to closure for a grieving family and accountability for a killer on the run.
