The gunman who barricaded himself in a Midland, Texas, building on Friday after a shooting that killed at least one person was wanted for attempted capital murder of a police officer, officials said.
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The shooting happened around 8 a.m. on West Wall Street. One person was killed, and 10 others were injured.
The suspect, Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, allegedly fired at police and bystanders and then barricaded himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic building, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release.
He was found dead inside the building around 12:30 p.m. No law enforcement officers were injured, DPS said.
Nine people were taken to Midland Memorial Hospital, a spokesperson for the hospital said. Four underwent surgeries. Two others are stable and remain in the emergency department, and three have been discharged.
Another person was taken to Odessa Medical Center Hospital.
A spokesperson for the city could not confirm if all of the victims had been shot.
In a video posted on Facebook, multiple gunshots could be heard coming from a building.
Jeremy Beard, an airplane mechanic who lives in Midland, was on his way to work Friday when he said he felt the gunfire's percussive vibrations through the music he was blasting in his SUV.
A former U.S. Army infantryman, Beard, 39, said he turned down the music and looked at the pickup next to him. The driver had opened his door and was doubled over, holding his stomach, Beard said.
“It felt just like an ambush,†he said.
Beard said he sped away to safety and heard gunshots as he drove off. His SUV was not hit.
Beard said he felt terrible that he hadn't been closer to the man who appeared to have been shot, and that he hadn't been able to open his vehicle's door to help him get in.
“It's very sad,†Beard said. “I don't know what to make of any of it anymore.â€
The suspect had been accused of attempted capital murder after allegedly firing shots at a Midland police officer during a vehicle pursuit on Wednesday.
Midland Police Chief Greg Snow said Friday's incident quickly escalated into an active shooter situation and officers “were pinned down behind their patrol vehicles.â€
Armored vehicles arrived, and the officers were able to get to safety.
“We then began moving through Highway 80 to see if there's anybody trapped in their vehicles that we could get out of there. We moved to deny more targets to this active shooter, and then we secured the perimeter and began making a plan to get everybody safe,†he said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are absolutely with the victims, and with their families,†Mayor Lori Blong said at a news conference.
The mayor said officials have no confirmed details on the victims.
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