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By Gabe Whisnant and Joshua Rhett Miller
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Police say the suspect in a Midland, Texas mass shooting that left one person dead and at least nine others injured on Friday morning has been killed.
Officials confirmed that the suspect, later identified as Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, of Odessa, was deceased around 11:45 a.m. local time after the lengthy standoff at the block of 4600 West Wall Street. Police did not immediately say how the suspect died.
"The scene remains active and has not been cleared. Road closures in the area are expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future as the investigation continues," the city of Midland said in a statement.
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Earlier Friday, Midland Memorial Hospital received nine victims who were wounded during the shooting. The hospital later said four patients underwent surgery, while three others were treated and released. Two additional patients were in stable condition, the hospital said. Officials have not confirmed the identities of the suspect or victims.
“Our thoughts are prayers are with the victims and their families,” Midland Mayor Lori Blong told reporters at a press conference. “Our community needs to pull together."
The shooting began around 8 a.m. in one part of the city and later moved to an area near a veterinary hospital. It sounded like at least 40 shots were fired, said Andrea Mendias, who works at an automobile body shop near the veterinary hospital.
Governor Greg Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said in a statement after the shooting, **“**The Governor commends the swift and professional response of the Midland Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, and all assisting law enforcement agencies working to protect the public. Texas stands ready to provide any additional state resources or support. We urge the public to continue following guidance from local officials and to avoid the area.”
FBI Responds to Midland, Texas Shooting
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the agency is on the scene in Midland has has deployed special agents and victim services personnel to assist the Midland Police Department.
The FBI told Newsweek in a statement via email, “FBI El Paso has deployed special agents and victim services personnel to assist the Midland Police Department at the scene of today’s incident. The FBI routinely offers assistance to our law enforcement partners and to the members of the community who are impacted. The scene is still active, so we ask the public to avoid the area to allow for law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Suspect Barricaded Near Tall City Vet Clinic and Victorian Inn
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis confirmed the active shooter to local media, with the suspect reportedly barricaded inside a building near the Tall City Vet Clinic, All American Collision and the Victorian Inn.
City officials said multiple law enforcement agencies responded and urged the public to avoid Eisenhower Drive, West Wall Street and Midkiff Road. The Texas Department of Transportation said Business 20 between Loop 250 and Midland Drive was closed due to law enforcement activity.
Midland Police Chief Greg Snow said in a statement posted to Facebook around 10:30 a.m., "Midland Police responded to an active shooter incident Friday morning in the 4600 block of West Wall Street. Officers heard gunfire coming from the building and worked quickly to secure and clear the area. Armored units were deployed, and partner agencies assisted in the response. Efforts to bring the standoff with the shooter to a safe resolution are ongoing."
Who Was Victor Mata Villarreal?
The shooting comes just days after Villarrael fired a rifle at a police officer following a traffic stop late Wednesday, according to Midland police and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Midland officer, who was not injured, returned fire as the suspect, identified by authorities as Villarreal, fled the scene in his vehicle, which was later found abandoned. He was not located despite an intense search, authorities said.
Villarreal was wanted for attempted capital murder of a peace officer. His criminal history includes prior arrests for simple assault in 2006 and weapons violations in 2009. It was immediately unclear how the cases were adjudicated.
Villarreal’s relatives, including his mother, declined to comment when reached by Newsweek Friday afternoon.
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Midland, Texas: What To Know
Midland is a city in West Texas and the county seat of Midland County, located in the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil and natural gas regions in the United States. With a population of about 132,000, it forms part of the broader Midland–Odessa metro area, often called the “Petroplex” because of its central role in the U.S. energy industry.
Founded in the 1880s as a railroad midpoint between Fort Worth and El Paso, Midland grew from a cattle shipping hub into a major oil center after discoveries in the Permian Basin in the 1920s. The city’s economy remains closely tied to the energy sector, though it has diversified into industries such as healthcare, logistics and aerospace, while the wider region continues to see growth tied to shale oil development and infrastructure expansion.
The shooting comes seven years after one of Texas’s deadliest recent mass shootings, when a gunman, Seth Aaron Ator, opened fire across multiple locations in Odessa and Midland in August 2019, killing seven victims and injuring more than 20 others during a roughly hourlong spree. The 36-year-old Texas man opened fire at motorists and pedestrians across the two cities, located roughly 300 miles west of Dallas.
This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.
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