A driver was shot near Walnut Hill Lane and Plano Road before the vehicle crossed the roadway and crashed into a tree.
DALLAS, Texas — Dallas police are investigating a fatal daytime shooting after a driver was struck by gunfire near a Lake Highlands shopping center Monday and crashed into a tree across Walnut Hill Lane.
Officers were called to the area of Walnut Hill Lane and Plano Road at about 12:20 p.m. Sept. 7. Police said their preliminary investigation found that someone opened fire on a person who was driving near the intersection. The wounded driver lost control of the vehicle after the shooting and crashed. Dallas Fire-Rescue pronounced the driver dead at the scene.
The victim had not been publicly identified as of Tuesday morning. Police said the name would be released after relatives were notified. Authorities also had not announced an arrest, identified a suspect or suspects, or disclosed a possible motive for the killing.
The shooting unfolded near a Family Dollar store at the intersection. A store manager told local television station KDFW that the victim had entered the business around noon, made a purchase and returned to the vehicle shortly before the gunfire. Investigators spent hours examining the parking lot and surrounding roadway after the shooting.
Video from a nearby business appeared to capture part of the attack. The footage showed a white vehicle moving through the parking lot as shots were fired before the car traveled over a curb, crossed Walnut Hill Lane and came to a stop after striking a tree. Police received surveillance footage from the area as part of the investigation.
News crews at the scene reported numerous evidence markers in the shopping center parking lot. The victim’s vehicle showed multiple apparent bullet impacts. Authorities closed or restricted traffic along part of Walnut Hill Lane while officers documented the scene and collected evidence.
The investigation also focused on vehicles seen leaving the parking area after the shooting. Video reviewed by KDFW showed a white SUV pulling away after the gunfire and a dark-colored sedan moving from a parking space moments later. Police have not publicly said whether either vehicle was connected to the shooting or whether investigators are searching for their occupants.
The broad-daylight shooting disrupted the surrounding neighborhood during the Labor Day holiday. Residents encountered police tape, patrol vehicles and traffic detours as investigators worked near homes and businesses. One nearby resident told KDFW that he and his wife initially believed they had returned home to the scene of a traffic crash before realizing police were investigating a shooting.
Investigators have not said what may have led to the gunfire or whether the victim was specifically targeted. Police initially described the case as involving a suspect or suspects firing into a vehicle, leaving unclear how many people detectives may be seeking.
The investigation remained active Tuesday. No arrests had been announced, and police had not released a suspect description, a motive or the victim’s identity.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.