A man identified as Victor Mata Villarreal opened fire on police and bystanders Friday morning in Midland, Texas, killing at least one person and wounding nine others before barricading himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic where he later died during a standoff with law enforcement, authorities said.
Background
The shooting unfolded around 8 a.m. local time as officers responded to reports of gunfire in the southwestern part of the city. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Villarreal had eluded capture just two days earlier after engaging in a vehicle chase and gun battle with law enforcement on Wednesday night. During that incident, Villarreal was wanted for attempted capital murder of a peace officer. Officers pulled over his vehicle, but he exited and exchanged gunfire with officers before escaping.
Lee Carlisle, who was staying at a Super 8 motel near the shooting scene, told CBS News he had received an alert about Villarreal after Wednesday's incident. A neighborhood resident informed him she had seen Villarreal at a local motel, prompting Carlisle to investigate.
"I seen him cross the street from the hotel to the gas station," Carlisle said. "I called the police, dispatch, immediately, but they said that they had already got a couple calls. Other people had already been calling in, and probably less than 5 minutes, there was, like, every police officer in Midland, Texas."
The Investigation
Midland Mayor Lori Blong confirmed that Villarreal's body was discovered at approximately 12:30 p.m. by a robot and drone deployed by investigators. No law enforcement officers were injured during the confrontation.
The city identified the victim killed in the shooting as Ed Scott, a city employee who was actively involved in local and regional softball organizations. "Ed was a person involved in the community, specifically working as an integral figure with local and regional softball organizations," the city said in a Facebook post. "Most importantly, he was a loving father and husband and good person all the way around."
Nine victims received treatment at Midland Memorial Hospital. According to the hospital's Saturday afternoon update, two patients remained in critical condition while two others were listed in fair condition. Earlier reports indicated four required surgery, with three in recovery and one still in the operating room as of Friday afternoon.
"My heart breaks for the victims and their families," Mayor Blong said. "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."
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as dozens of police vehicles descended on the area. "We heard several, several gunshots, like 20 gunshots, and then it moved down — the whole situation moved further down," Carlisle said. "We see the drones, and then we see the Texas Rangers and the undercover cars with lights on. ... Had to be, seems like, 50 police officers, like a small army."
Midland Memorial Hospital implemented a lockdown lasting approximately an hour and a half as victims were brought in for treatment. One woman, identified only as Jane, who was at the hospital during the lockdown, said she witnessed casualties before being moved to safety.
"My understanding is that the whereabouts of the shooter were not entirely known at the time," Jane told CBS News 24/7. "And we also wanted to stay out of the way of the essential hospital staff that needed to take care of patients."
Key Takeaways
- Victor Mata Villarreal was previously wanted for attempted capital murder of a peace officer after trading gunfire with officers during a vehicle chase on Wednesday night
- The suspect escaped capture despite exiting his vehicle and engaging in firefight with law enforcement two days before the mass shooting
- Victim Ed Scott was identified by the city as a community member involved in local softball organizations and a loving father and husband
- Nine victims were treated at Midland Memorial Hospital; four required surgery, with two still in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon
- Villarreal's body was discovered approximately 12:30 p.m. by police robot and drone after he barricaded himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic
What's Next
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Midland Police Department continue their investigation into the shooting. Authorities have not yet released information regarding a possible motive or additional details about Villarreal's prior encounter with law enforcement. Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims' families and the Midland community.