One person killed, several injured in Midland Texas shooting
A shooting incident in Texas leaves one person dead and several others injured. Some of the victims have been discharged from the hospital, but others remain hospitalized.
A Texas community is mourning the death of a city employee on June 13, a day after a gunman opened fire in Midland and barricaded himself inside a building for hours.
One victim, identified as Midland City employee Ed Scott, was killed and 10 others were injured. The identities of the injured have not been released. On the evening of June 12, community members gathered for prayer and gathering.
Authorities said the gunman, Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, also died inside the abandoned veterinary hospital, and the standoff ended on the afternoon of June 12. Villarreal became the subject of an investigation after police say he fired at officers during a traffic stop just before midnight June 10 and fled the scene.
Midland City Government released a statement on social media saying, “Today is one of the most difficult days our organization and community has ever faced. We have lost one of our own.”
Here’s what we know about the shooting and investigation.
What happened in the Midland, Texas mass shooting?
Around 8 a.m. local time on June 12, authorities responded to a report of an active shooter in the 4600 block of West Wall Street in Midland, a city of more than 145,000 people in West Texas. When they arrived, Villarreal fired shots at bystanders and officers, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He then barricaded himself inside an abandoned veterinary building.
City officials urged residents to stay away from the area, but authorities ensued a standoff that was not ended until nearly noon. Officials said they secured and cleared the area and brought in armored vehicles and response personnel from multiple local and state agencies.
Officials said the standoff ended after robot and drone footage showed the suspect dead inside the building.
Who were the victims?
Ed Scott has been identified as the fatal shooting victim. He was a city employee, but authorities have not disclosed his exact role.
“Ed was involved in the community, especially as an integral part of local and regional softball organizations. Most importantly, he was a loving father and husband, and an all-around good person,” Midland officials said in a statement.
The city said Scott’s family has asked for privacy.
“Behind every employee badge is a husband or wife, a mother or father, a son or daughter, a friend or teammate, and someone whose life touched countless others. Today, families are experiencing an indescribable loss, and our hearts are with them,” the city said.
The identities of the 10 injured have not been revealed. Midland Memorial Hospital said nine of the victims were treated there. Five people were discharged from the hospital on the same day, and four had or were undergoing surgery.
What we know about suspect Victor Mata Villarreal
According to Midland Police, on June 10th at approximately 11:23 p.m., an officer attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the vehicle fled for several blocks before coming to a stop. Police said the driver, identified as Villarreal, got out of his car and fired a rifle at officers.
Villarreal then fled the scene in a vehicle as officers returned fire. Police said the officer was not injured.
The vehicle was later found abandoned not far from the scene of the attempted traffic stop, but Villarreal was still at large. Officials said he was wanted on charges of attempted capital murder against security personnel.
Villarreal lived near Odessa, Texas, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Authorities have not released a motive for the two shootings, which occurred on June 10 and June 12. It also did not say how the suspected gunman died inside the building.
