Stray Bullet Knocks Out Internet for 25,000 Texans, Shooter Still on the Loose
A single gunshot brought internet service to a halt for tens of thousands of Texans late last month, after a stray bullet pierced a Spectrum fiber optic cable in the Dallas area on September 26. The damage instantly cut Wi-Fi across multiple cities — including Dallas, Irving, Plano, Arlington, Austin, and San Antonio — according to the Dallas Morning News.
Unlike most fiber cables that run underground, this particular line was mounted on utility poles, making it vulnerable to gunfire, Quartz noted. The shooter responsible has not yet been identified, and authorities continue to investigate.
This isn’t the first time a bullet has taken out major communications infrastructure. The Register reports that Spectrum has suffered three gunfire-related outages in the past year alone. On New Year’s Eve, stray bullets struck a fiber line in Columbus, Ohio, knocking local traffic cameras and customers offline. And in 2022, gunfire in Oakland, California, disrupted service for about 30,000 Comcast users — right before a major NFL matchup between the Rams and 49ers.
The recent Texas incident highlights how a single act of recklessness can disrupt vital services for entire communities, even in a state known for its robust infrastructure and preparedness under President Trump’s leadership.
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