A shooting in Midland, Texas, left at least one person dead and 10 others injured on Friday, prompting a large emergency response that ended after the suspected gunman died following a prolonged confrontation with law enforcement.
City officials said 11 people were confirmed as victims, including the person who was killed. Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the injured, with four undergoing surgery as medical teams worked to treat the most serious cases. Hospital officials said the remaining five patients were in stable condition. Another victim was transported to a medical facility in nearby Odessa.
Emergency calls reporting gunfire began arriving at approximately 8:03 a.m. local time. Police officers quickly responded, and the incident developed into a standoff with the suspect that lasted about two hours.
Authorities deployed SWAT officers and additional law enforcement resources as they worked to contain the situation. City leaders said the suspect was ultimately confined to a specific area before the incident concluded. Midland Police later announced that the active shooter situation had been resolved and confirmed the suspect was deceased.
Investigators have not released the identity of the suspect or provided details about what may have led to the shooting. Information about the victims, including their identities and the circumstances in which they were injured, has also not yet been made public.
Speaking during a news briefing, Midland Mayor Lori Blong expressed sympathy for those affected and thanked first responders for their actions during the emergency. She said her thoughts were with the victims and their families and praised law enforcement officers who placed themselves in danger while responding to the attack.
The mayor also said she was unaware of any police officers being injured during the operation.
The shooting unfolded across multiple locations in Midland, according to reports from law enforcement cited by The Associated Press. The confrontation eventually ended near a veterinary hospital after beginning elsewhere in the city. A nearby auto body shop employee told the AP that dozens of gunshots could be heard during the incident, although authorities have not confirmed the number of shots fired.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also offered condolences in a statement on social media, saying Texans were mourning the violence and expressing support for the victims, their families, and the emergency personnel who responded.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to establish the sequence of events and determine what led to the attack.
Friday’s shooting revives painful memories for Midland, a West Texas city of roughly 140,000 residents. In 2019, a gunman who had been dismissed from his job drove through Midland and neighboring Odessa, firing at random, killing seven people and injuring more than two dozen others before being fatally shot by police.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as the investigation progresses and families are notified.
