A nearly 30-hour manhunt in West Texas ended in deadly and chaotic fashion on Friday after a fugitive accused of trying to kill a police officer opened fire indiscriminately on motorists, killing one person and injuring 10 others before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities had been searching for 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal of Odessa since Wednesday, following an incident in which he allegedly shot at a police officer during a pursuit, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The search came to a violent conclusion in Midland, Texas, where officers responding to reports of gunfire on Friday morning discovered Villarreal had taken refuge inside an abandoned veterinary clinic.
Law enforcement sources later confirmed he was found dead inside the building from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials identified the man killed in the rampage as 62-year-old Ed Scott, an employee of the city of Midland and a well-known figure in the local softball community.
In a social media post Friday evening, the city paid tribute to him.
“A member of the City of Midland family will not be coming home,” the statement said.
Gunfire sparks SWAT response Friday morning
According to multiple law enforcement sources, Villarreal may have switched off his mobile phone in an attempt to avoid detection, but it briefly reactivated Friday morning near the Victorian Inn area.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Midland police officers responded to reports of active gunfire coming from a building. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Midland Police Department quickly joined the response.
As officers arrived, Villarreal allegedly fired at police, passing vehicles, and bystanders before barricading himself inside the abandoned veterinary clinic.
Brenda Bowen, manager of All American Collision, described witnessing the chaos unfold.
“I saw a man (randomly) shooting at cars driving by,” she said. Her business immediately went into lockdown as the situation escalated.
Witnesses also reported a semitruck driver blocking an exit ramp on Loop 250 in an effort to prevent motorists from entering the danger zone.
A SWAT vehicle eventually broke through a fence, and officers moved in on the building. Andrea Mendias of the nearby Loop 250 Collision Center said she saw roughly 20 SWAT officers entering the structure.
After the standoff, authorities later confirmed the suspect was found dead inside the building at about 12:30 p.m.
Multiple victims taken to hospital
Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed it received nine victims from the shooting, according to spokesperson Tasa Richardson. Five patients had been discharged by Friday afternoon, while three others had undergone surgery and one remained in the operating room.
Wednesday pursuit triggered manhunt
The incident stemmed from an earlier confrontation on Wednesday night when police attempted to stop Villarreal. According to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation, he led officers on a high-speed chase and fired at police from his vehicle.
At one point during the pursuit, Villarreal exited his car and fired a rifle at an officer, who returned fire, according to the Midland Police Department.
He then fled again, abandoning his vehicle several blocks away before escaping on foot. Midland Police, the Texas Rangers, and US Marshals launched an extensive manhunt, with authorities later announcing he was wanted for attempted capital murder of a police officer.
The FBI also assisted in the investigation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who confirmed the agency’s involvement in a social media post Friday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed condolences following the tragedy, calling it “deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence in Midland.”
“We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community,” Abbott said. “I have been briefed on the matter and commend the swift response from the Midland Police Department, DPS and all assisting law enforcement agencies.”
City officials described Ed Scott as a dedicated public servant and active member of the local sports community.
“We lost one of our own,” the city of Midland said, describing Friday as “one of the hardest days our organization and our community will ever face.”
Scott, who worked in the city’s solid waste department, was remembered for his involvement in local and regional softball activities. Officials said he was a devoted husband and father and widely respected in the community.
“Behind every employee badge is a husband or wife, a mother or father, a son or daughter, a friend, a teammate, and a person whose life touched countless others,” the city said.
Midland Mayor Lori Blong called for unity and prayer in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“Our city has been through a lot today,” Blong said. “I believe the answer to all of it starts on our knees.”
