shooting occurred MidlandOne person was killed and 10 others were injured in a shooting in Texas on Friday, before authorities found a dead person inside a building after a lengthy standoff. Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, of Odessa.
according to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 4600 block of West Wall Street around 8 a.m. Central Time.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
Read more: Midland mass shooting suspect: 5 things to know about Texas, 1 dead, several injured
5 things you need to know about Victor Mata Villarreal
1. Victor Mata Villarreal is from Odessa. Authorities in Texas named 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal as the person responsible for Friday’s shooting in Midland. Officials said he lived in nearby Odessa, about 20 miles southwest of Midland.
2. Villarreal barricaded himself in a building. According to a preliminary DPS investigation, Villarreal allegedly fired at police officers and bystanders before barricading himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic.
Authorities established a cordon around the building and engaged in a standoff that lasted several hours.
3. Villarreal found dead after mass shooting. During the standoff, law enforcement used drones and robotic equipment. Midland Mayor Lori Bron said authorities later confirmed Villarreal died inside the building. Officials have not yet revealed the cause of his death.
4. Villarreal was wanted by police before Friday’s mass shooting. Authorities said Villarreal was wanted for the attempted murder of a peace officer before Friday’s shooting. Investigators say he fired multiple shots at a Midland police officer during a vehicle pursuit on Wednesday, June 10.
The officer was not injured.
5. Villarreal’s pursuit began with a traffic stop. The city of Midland said the incident occurred around 11:23 p.m. when a Midland police officer attempted to stop Villarreal’s car on a nearby road.
The car did not stop immediately but drove several blocks before coming to a stop, police said. Villarreal then got out of the car and allegedly opened fire with a rifle. When officers returned fire, he reportedly got back into his car and left the area.
His vehicle was later found abandoned nearby.
Read more: Midland, Texas mass shooting update: What we know about suspects and victims; first details
Update on victims of Midland shooting
Midland Memorial Hospital reported that several victims received emergency treatment following the shooting. Five patients have been discharged, hospital officials said. Four victims underwent surgery and three were later transferred to rehabilitation centres. As of the latest update, one patient was still undergoing surgery.
“We are grateful to the entire community for their cooperation throughout this incident and to our medical staff and employees for their dedication during this tragic time,” the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital also announced a community blood drive scheduled for June 13 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to replenish supplies following the emergency, WGN9 reported.
