At least one person is dead and ten others have been wounded following a chaotic mass shooting and subsequent police standoff in Midland, Texas, local officials confirmed on Friday.
The active shooter incident threw the West Texas town—located about 330 miles (530 km) west of Dallas—into lockdown for hours before the gunman was confirmed deceased by local authorities.
According to a press conference held by local officials, there are 11 known victims in total, including the deceased individual. Midland Memorial Hospital reported receiving nine of the victims, four of whom were rushed immediately into emergency surgery. Another wounded individual was transported to the nearby Odessa Medical Center Hospital.
“My heart breaks for the victims and their families,” Midland Mayor Lori Blong said in a statement. “We are praying for every person touched by today’s events and for the law enforcement officers who risked their own safety to protect our community.”
From a Spree to a SWAT Standoff
Mayor Blong stated that emergency services received the first frantic calls regarding the shooting at 8:03 AM local time. Police officers and SWAT teams responded rapidly to the scene as the situation unfolded.
According to reports, the shooting began in one area of the city before the suspect fled, eventually becoming barricaded near a local veterinary hospital. For nearly two hours, the gunman engaged in a high-stakes standoff with surrounded law enforcement agencies.
Andrea Mendias, an employee at an auto body shop located near the final standoff site, told reporters that the area erupted in gunfire, estimating that at least 40 shots were fired during the chaotic exchange.
Shortly after containing the perimeter, the Midland Police Department posted a definitive update on Facebook: “The active shooter incident has been resolved, and the suspect is confirmed deceased.”
A Community Reliving Past Trauma
While four victims remain in surgery, hospital officials noted that the remaining five patients are currently in stable condition. No law enforcement officers are believed to have been injured during the response.
Information regarding the identity or motive of the shooter has not yet been released by police, and the identities of the victims are being withheld pending family notifications.
“Texans are heartbroken over the news of a shooting in Midland,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated on social media, calling for prayers for the victims, families, and brave first responders.
This tragedy marks a painful chapter for Midland, a city of about 140,000 residents. Six years ago, the community faced a similar mass casualty event when a disgruntled oil services worker went on a random shooting spree across Midland and Odessa, killing seven people and wounding more than two dozen others.
Source: BBC News / NBC News / AP
