Midland, Texas: At least one person has died and ten others injured following a shooting in Midland, Texas, authorities said on Friday.
Police initially engaged in a standoff with the shooter but later reported the suspect was deceased as of early on Friday afternoon local time in Midland, a city about 330 miles (530km) west of Dallas.
Reports said the shooter was 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal, an Odessa resident who had been wanted for attempted murder since the Wednesday before the shooting.
Local officials said there are 11 known victims, including the fatality. Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed it received nine patients, four of whom are undergoing surgery; NBC News reported another victim was taken to Odessa Medical Center Hospital.
Midland Mayor Lori Blong said, “My heart breaks for the victims a
nd their families.”
She added, “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.”
Blong said officers first received calls about the shooting at 8:03 a.m. local time (14:03 GMT) and responded quickly. For roughly two hours after the incident began, the suspect remained in a standoff with officers.
The Associated Press reported police said the confrontation started in one part of the city before moving near a veterinary hospital in another area.
Andrea Mendias, who works at an auto body shop close to the veterinary hospital, told the AP it sounded like at least 40 shots were fired. Blong said SWAT and other agencies were deployed, and the suspect was “contained”.
Shortly after, Midland Police posted on Facebook that “the active shooter incident had been resolved, and the suspect is confirmed deceased.”
Officials gave no further information about the suspect or the victims; Midland Memorial said the five victims not in surgery are in “stable” condition.
Blong said she was not aware of any injured officers. “Texans are heartbroken over the news of a shooting in Midland,” Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick posted on social media.
Midland previously endured a mass shooting six years ago when a dismissed oil-services worker drove through Midland and nearby Odessa, firing at random, killing seven people and injuring about two dozen others.