FOREST HILL, Texas — For 30 years, 56-year-old Yolanda Gibbs served children lunch meals at Fort Worth ISD’s David K. Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill.
Her daughter, Christina Ware told WFAA Gibbs planned to retire from her cafeteria job this year, but decided to stay.
“She made sure everybody felt secure, loved,” Ware said.
According to Forest Hill police, Wednesday morning, someone Gibbs knew shot her in a back parking lot of the school. Gibbs later died in the hospital. The suspect fled the scene in a silver-colored Chevy Impala, which was later found abandoned in Fort Worth.
“I’m angry, I’m bitter,” Ware said. “My momma didn’t deserve that.”
Whenever Gibbs wasn’t with family or working, she was either in church or bible study, Ware said.
“She instilled it in us to always pray, but she also taught us to be very strong women,” Ware said. “I just want everybody to just pray for us right now.”
Ware and her family decided against sharing details with WFAA about how their Gibbs knew the suspect and what may have led to the shooting. The decision to keep details private was out of concern for their own safety and due to the ongoing police investigation, Ware said.
“The person that did do it is a coward,” Ware said. “I would like for his family members to know that. I would like for someone to come forward if they know something because that was my rock.”
On Friday, Oct. 13, the department said a person of interest in Gibbs' murder was found dead. That person's name has not been released to the public. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office determined the person of interest cause of death was "fentanyl toxicity."
Forest Hill Police said the investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information should call the department at 817-531-5250 or call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS or www.469tips.com. Reference case number 23FPD13544.