West Texas Shooting
West Texas Shooter, Sought for Prior Police Firing, Kills One, Injures Ten Before Dying
A gunman opened fire on a busy commercial street in Midland, West Texas, on Friday morning, killing one person and wounding ten others before barricading himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic. The suspect, 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal of Odessa, was found dead inside the building hours later after police used a robot and drone to confirm his identity, Associated Press reported.
The attack came just 36 hours after Villarreal had already fired on a Midland police officer during a car chase — an encounter that left him wanted on a charge of Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer, according to Texas DPS. He had been at large, armed and dangerous, in the same area until he opened fire again Friday morning.
Shots Fired, Then a 36-Hour Gap Before the Massacre
The trouble started late Wednesday night, around 11 p.m. on June 10. A Midland officer tried to pull over Villarreal near the 4700 block of Comanche Drive. Villarreal fled, then jumped out of his car and fired multiple rifle rounds at the officer, Newsweek reported. The officer returned fire, but Villarreal escaped in the vehicle, which was later found abandoned.
A warrant for Attempted Capital Murder was issued that night, KFYO reported. But for roughly 36 hours, Villarreal remained free in the Midland-Odessa area. That window is now drawing hard questions. Local outlets are asking why a man wanted for shooting at police was not caught before he killed again.
Friday Morning: Gunfire on West Wall Street
At about 8 a.m. on Friday, June 12, Villarreal opened fire in the 4600 block of West Wall Street — a busy stretch of hotels, auto shops, and oil service businesses, Associated Press reported. Witnesses heard at least 40 gunshots. Midland Memorial Hospital locked down its campus at 8:20 a.m. as the first victims arrived.
Nine victims were treated at Midland Memorial Hospital. Four required surgery and five were released. A tenth victim was treated at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, according to San Angelo LIVE!. As of Friday afternoon, four people remained in critical condition. No officers were hurt during the shootout.
Robot and Drone End the Standoff Without More Bloodshed
After the shooting, Villarreal barricaded himself inside the abandoned veterinary clinic. Law enforcement from multiple agencies — including Texas Rangers, Lubbock County Sheriff's SWAT, and the FBI — surrounded the building and set up a perimeter, Texas DPS reported. Midland Police Chief Greg Snow said officers "worked quickly to secure and clear the area" once gunfire was heard from inside.
Between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., authorities sent a robot and a drone into the clinic. Footage confirmed Villarreal was dead. Midland Mayor Lori Blong held a press conference at 1 p.m. to announce the outcome. "My heart breaks for the victims and their families," CBS News quoted her as saying. "We are praying for every person touched by today's events."
A City Still Scarred by the 2019 Spree Shooting
Midland residents know this kind of violence. In August 2019, a gunman named Seth Aaron Ator killed seven people and wounded 25 others in a rampage across Midland and neighboring Odessa. That attack also began with the suspect firing at police during a traffic stop — a detail that makes Friday's shooting feel eerily familiar to locals, according to Associated Press.
Investigators are now searching Villarreal's last known address in Odessa for any evidence of motive. He had a prior criminal record that included a 2006 assault and 2009 weapons violations, Newsweek reported. The identity of the civilian who died has not been released while family is notified. The Texas Rangers are leading the formal investigation.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
9
Articles
9
Reach
9
