FOREST HILL, Texas — A popular North Texas rapper and his 5-year-old daughter were the two who died after a shooting at a car wash in Forest Hill Monday, a family member confirmed to WFAA.
Fort Worth rapper Ronnie “LilRonnie” Smith, also known as G$ Lil Ronnie, and his 5-year-old daughter were identified by Smith’s aunt, who spoke with WFAA at the scene.
The Forest Hill Police Department confirmed that a 30-year-old man and a 5-year-old girl died in the incident.
In a news release, Forest Hill police said officers responded to a shooting at the Slappy’s Express car wash in the 6500 block of Forest Hill Drive. This is southeast of Rolling Hills Park and southwest of Lake Arlington.
Authorities found the victim’s car with bullet holes in the windshield and provided life-saving measures to the victims, but they were both pronounced dead at the scene, Forest Hill PD said.
Becky Johnson, who lives near Slappy’s Car Wash, heard the gunfire and called for help.
“I heard six — one, two, three, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop — then about a few seconds later, I heard another six,” Johnson said.
BREAKING NEWS: I am at the Slappy Car Wash in Forest Hill where Chief David Hernandez & his officers are investigating after multiple 911 calls about gunfire. We are awaiting more details from FHPD. Medstar & FWFD also responded to the scene. @wfaa@ForestHillPDpic.twitter.com/SuekwxIwav
— Scoop Jefferson (@scoopjefferson) March 3, 2025
Forest Hill PD said its preliminary investigation reveals that two suspects exited a white four-door Kia, approached the victim’s car and opened fire. The suspects were described as two Black men wearing blue jeans and grey sweaters, police said.
Forest Hill PD said at least one suspect has been identified and an active capital murder warrant has been issued.
“Currently, we are not ready to release the suspect’s name as the investigation continues,” Forest Hill said in a news release.
Slappy’s Car Wash said in a statement that they are “shocked, appalled, and deeply troubled by the senseless and violent events that occurred today.”
“Right now, there are more questions than answers. Thankfully, law enforcement and medics responded quickly and worked to secure the area, protect and treat the victims as well as our people who were working early this morning,” their statement continued.
Slappy’s said the Forest Hill location would be closed for at least two days after the incident.
People nearby and witnesses describe hearing what sounded like gunshots in the area.
“I was laying in my bed, and I heard a bunch of gunshots. Initially I thought it was them working in the street,” April Tarpley said. “It was loud.”
The shooting drew a large crowd of family, friends, and people who knew Smith from the music scene.
“I wish they hadn’t put that car wash right there because, yeah, it’s just been like issues upon issues. Mainly with traffic getting out of my neighborhood,” she added.
Smith’s aunt Stella Houston told WFAA she is trying to understand why anyone would attack her nephew. Especially since he had no known enemies, she is aware of who would want to harm him.
“He was a good kid. He was,” said Stella Houston. “He didn’t bother nobody, He didn’t.”
In less than an hour of the shooting, social media was flooded with condolences for Smith and his daughter. However, the victim’s official identification will be provided by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.
The Forest Hill Police Department is also receiving scene assistance from other surrounding agencies, including the Fort Worth Police Department, Everman Police Department, Mansfield Police Department and the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
The fatal shooting at the car wash is the third major incident involving gunfire for the Forest Hill Police Department this year.
Detectives there say they’re investigating the shooting death of a woman killed last week by a stray bullet while in her backyard. The Forest Hill Police Department is also investigating a shooting at a dealership, where they arrested one person.
This is a developing story. WFAA will update this story as additional information becomes available.