Woman who died in April mass shooting in Dallas remembered by grandmother

This story is part of The Dallas Morning News’ murder project focused on sharing the stories of people killed in Dallas in 2024.

Coriesha Bradford was the kind of person who looked after the children at family gatherings and, when she wasn’t busy with work, took her grandmother along.

“She used to take care of me, she did a lot for me,” said Thelma Oudems, her grandmother, during a conversation with The Dallas Morning News in April.

On many Sundays, Oudems and Bradford sat in front of the television to listen to Joel Osteen’s sermons.

“That’s my guy,” Oudems said.

She said she leaned on the Houston televangelist’s messages after learning her 21-year-old niece was fatally shot in the early hours of April 14 in South Dallas.

Shortly after 11 p.m. the previous day, officers were dispatched to a shooting in the 4500 block of Collins Avenue, according to police. Responding officers learned a “large party” had ended in the area and the crowd from the party had moved into the street, police said.

“The shooting stopped” by the time officers arrived, police said, adding that officers “remained nearby” to monitor the crowd.

Around 1:35 a.m., shots were again reported at the location, and Bradford was among nine people — seven women and two men — who were injured, according to police. Bradford later died at a hospital, police said.

In a statement on April 14, Dallas Police Chief Eddie García said he had “many questions” about the shooting.

“While the preliminary investigation determined that the responding officers did not observe criminal activity among the people in the area at the time, this event ultimately led to tragic consequences,” García said, adding that the department will conduct an internal investigation into the “circumstances” of the shooting call.

Dallas police arrested a 28-year-old man on April 20 who is charged with deadly conduct and allegedly firing a gun into the air during the shooting that killed Bradford. The man was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, police said.

Police have not confirmed whether or not the man arrested was responsible for Bradford’s death. In an email Thursday, Dallas police said they had no update on the investigation, which is ongoing.

“She just picked the wrong night to go out and that’s it,” Oudems said on the afternoon of April 14 outside her Far East Dallas apartment.

The Oudems and others who identified themselves as friends or family members of the Bradford family described how he loved to sing.

Bradford sang with an “old soul,” a quality Oudems believes her granddaughter picked up while spending time with her.

“He had a beautiful voice, can you hear me? They wanted her to sing at church,” Oudems said.

Oudems said Bradford loved being outdoors and was in a Girl Scout troop when she was younger.

Bradford enjoyed dating and camping much more than selling cookies. She attended WW Samuell High School, according to her family.

“She was loved,” Oudems said.