ROAD RAGE OR HATE CRIME: Fort Worth Community Calls for Action Amid Rising Gun Violence.
ROAD RAGE OR HATE CRIME: Fort Worth Community Calls for Action Amid Rising Gun Violence. City Invited To Honor Lives Lost to Gun Violence. Ecumenical Worship Service:
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 11:30 AM
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church
2864 Mississippi Ave, Fort Worth, TX (Near I-35 & East Berry St.)
The streets of Fort Worth are no strangers to gun violence, but the recent fatal shooting of 62-year-old Ricky Langs has struck a nerve, reigniting concerns among community leaders and residents who say enough is enough.
Langs was shot and killed on January 27, 2025, in what police suspect was a road rage incident on Loop 820 near the Meadowbrook exit. Just minutes before the shooting, Langs was on the phone with family, voicing frustration about a driver following him too closely. Moments later, he was found unconscious in his vehicle with a gunshot wound.
Authorities have since arrested 22-year-old Koby Burkhart in connection with the murder, but as details unfold, one thing remains clear: the community is weary of the relentless cycle of gun violence that continues to claim innocent lives.
A City on Edge
Gun violence has become a painful reality in Fort Worth, shattering families and leaving neighborhoods in fear. Faith leaders, activists, and residents alike are calling for immediate action to address what they see as an epidemic of senseless killings.
Rev. Kyev Tatum, a longtime advocate against gun violence, has been vocal in pushing for community-driven solutions focused on de-escalation and conflict resolution.
Anger is the emotional punishment we give ourselves for someone else’s behavior.” Rev. Kyev Tatum
Tatum has dedicated years to preventing violence through initiatives like Pitch, Hit, Run Over Bullets and Guns, a baseball event aimed at keeping kids engaged in positive activities and away from the dangers of street violence. He believes that education, mentorship, and intervention are key to breaking the cycle of violence before it starts.
“You always have a choice, to react aggressively or to step back,” said Tatum. The less aggressive your response, the lower the risk of becoming a victim of road rage or any other form of violence.”
Seeking Justice and Change
The arrest of Burkhart has brought some relief, but it does little to ease the pain of a grieving community. Many are demanding answers:
Why did this happen?
Was this truly road rage, or something more?
How can we prevent tragedies like this in the future?
Gun violence has torn apart too many families in Fort Worth, and for community leaders like Tatum, the fight for change is more urgent than ever. The call for justice extends beyond solving Langs’s case, it is a demand for systemic change to prevent the next life from being lost.
That’s why the community is coming together for a special Ecumenical Worship Service on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 11:30 AM at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church. The service will honor the lives lost to gun violence and serve as a call to action for policy change, increased community engagement, and nonviolent conflict resolution strategies.
“We cannot afford to be silent,” said Tatum. “Every life lost is a reminder that we must do more.”
As the investigation continues, the Fort Worth community remains steadfast in its mission:
Address the root causes of violence
Advocate for stronger conflict-resolution programs
Ensure that no more families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to a bullet
For now, they grieve. But they also organize, advocate, and demand a future where tragedies like this no longer define their neighborhoods.
### JOIN THE MOVEMENT: FIGHT TO END GUN VIOLENCE
Ecumenical Worship Service | Honoring Lives Lost to Gun Violence
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 11:30 AM
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church
2864 Mississippi Ave, Fort Worth, TX (Near I-35 & East Berry St.)
Together, we can stop the violence.
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