At least one person was killed and 10 more wounded when a crazed fugitive opened fire in a West Texas city and barricaded himself in an empty building Friday, two days after he tried to blast a cop, authorities said.
The shooter, identified as Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, began his rampage around 8 a.m. in Midland sparking an hours-long standoff with police that ended when he took his own life, officials said.
Authorities initially responded to reports of an active shooter and then took heavy fire, along with civilians at the scene, from Mata Villarreal, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The shooter, identified as Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, began his rampage around 8 a.m. in Midland sparking an hours-long standoff with police that ended when he took his own life, officials said. US Marshall's Service via AP
Police were in a “standoff” with a shooter who injured multiple people in Midland, Texas. KTVTMata Villarreal, of Odessa, then holed himself up in an abandoned veterinary clinic, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement, who set up a perimeter around the building.
The stalemate came to an end around 12:30 p.m. when police rushed the building and found the shooter dead, authorities said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and our officers,” Midland Mayor Lori Blong said at a press conference Friday.
Officials did not say how Mata Villarreal died, but his death was confirmed by a robot and drone, the mayor said at a second press briefing.
DPS confirmed one person was killed by gunfire and another 10 were injured.
No cops were wounded as an armored vehicle shielded several officers hiding behind their patrol cars while bullets flew, said Midland Police Chief Greg Snow.
A motive for the brazen attack was not immediately known, but Mata Villarreal was already on law enforcement’s radar for firing multiple gunshots at a Midland cop during a vehicle pursuit Wednesday, DPS said.
That officer, who was not injured, returned fire but wasn’t able to stop Mata Villareal, who drove off and ditched his car, which was later found a short distance from the scene, investigators said.
It wasn’t Mata Villerreal’s first run-in with law enforcmeent. He was also convicted of unlawfully carrying a firearm in San Angelo in 2009, and was arrested several other times, court records indicate.
Other weapons charges from more than decade ago appear to have been dismissed as part of a plea, and he also pleaded no contest to a domestic violence rap in 2008 that was later dismissed.
“Cecilia and I are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence in Midland,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on X.
“We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community. I have been briefed on the matter and commend the swift response from the Midland Police Department, DPS and all assisting law enforcement agencies.”
The FBI was also on the scene and assisting in the investigation, FBI Direcotr Kash Patel posted to X.
Midland is a city of about 130,000 some 320 miles west of Austin.
With Post wires.
