In a tragic event on Friday morning in Midland, West Texas, a gunman opened fire, resulting in one fatality and injuring ten others. Authorities revealed that the shooter, identified as 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal, had previously fired at a police officer during a pursuit just days before the incident.

Mata Villarreal was already on law enforcement’s radar when he began shooting at officers and civilians in Midland. The situation escalated as he took refuge in a deserted veterinary clinic, where he was later discovered dead, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Details about the sequence of events remain sparse. Midland Police Chief Greg Snow reported that officers responded swiftly to calls of an active shooter. Upon their arrival, Mata Villarreal targeted them, forcing several officers to take cover behind their vehicles. Fortunately, an armored vehicle was deployed to extract the pinned officers, and none sustained gunshot injuries.

In an effort to minimize further casualties, police evacuated the vicinity. “We acted quickly to remove potential targets from the shooter’s line of fire,” Snow explained.

Several hours after the initial gunfire, authorities confirmed Mata Villarreal’s death within the clinic using drone and robotic surveillance, as stated by Midland Mayor Lori Blong. However, the exact circumstances of his death remain undisclosed.

A spokesperson for the city identified a man killed in the shooting as Ed Scott, a father and husband who worked in solid waste for Midland. He also did a lot of work with local and regional softball organizations, according to the city.

Friends mourning his death described him in social media posts as a softball umpire and volleyball official who was known for his kindness and jokes.

Mata Villarreal, of nearby Odessa, was wanted for attempted capital murder of a peace officer after firing multiple times at a Midland police officer on Wednesday, the state’s public safety agency said.

The officer, who wasn’t injured, fired back after initially trying to pull over Mata Villarreal, who drove away, investigators said. His vehicle was found empty a short distance away, they said. Police have not said why the officer tried to stop Mata Villarreal.

Friday’s standoff happened about a half-mile (1 kilometer) from where the shots were fired at the police officer Wednesday.

Police have not said why Mata Villarreal began shooting on Friday or provided any details about the victims, including who they were, how they were shot or the conditions of those still hospitalized.

Midland Memorial Hospital said four people who were brought there underwent surgery and that five had been treated and released.

Calls to numbers listed for some relatives of Mata Villarreal in Texas went unanswered Friday or appeared to be lines that had been disconnected.

Mata Villarreal had several previous encounters with law enforcement, including some arrests, records show.

He was convicted on a 2009 charge of unlawfully carrying a firearm in San Angelo, according to Texas criminal history records.

He was charged in 2003 and 2004 for unlawfully carrying a weapon and unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon, but both cases appear to have been dismissed as part of a plea. He also pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge in 2008 that was later dismissed.

As police responded to Friday’s shooting, dozens of squad cars and law enforcement vehicles descended along what’s normally a busy roadway lined with hotels and auto businesses a few miles west of Midland’s downtown.

Andrea Mendias said she heard what sounded like a small explosion at the closed veterinary clinic next to the auto body shop where she works and saw a number of heavily armed police officers rush into the parking lot. Some appeared to go inside the building.

Mendias said she earlier heard what sounded like at least 40 gunshots.

Video from Mendias showed officers pouring out of the back of an armored police vehicle and police deploying robots into the area.

The city with about 140,000 residents sits in the heart of the state’s oil and gas region and was near the site of a deadly shooting rampage in 2019.

In that shooting, a gunman who had been fired from his oil services job killed seven people and wounded two dozen others while firing at random as he drove around the Odessa and Midland areas. The two cities are more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) west of Dallas.

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Associated Press reporters Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, contributed.

JESUP, Ga. – A heartbroken family in Jesup is mourning the tragic death of a beloved daughter and wife after her body was discovered on a local road several months ago.

On March 27, 23-year-old Ma ‘Kiyah Jackson was found at the intersection of Highway 27 and Highway 169. She was rushed to the hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries.

Initially, the Jesup Police Department suspected that Jackson had been hit by a vehicle. However, as the investigation progressed, authorities began to suspect she may have been the victim of an assault.

Jackson’s family recently opened up about their loss and recounted the devastating moment they learned of the incident.

“I refuse to let her case become a cold case,” said Sharetta Cortland, Jackson’s mother. “It shouldn’t and doesn’t have to remain unsolved.”

Jackson was visiting the area she grew up in and was seeing friends, Cortland said. Courtland and Jackson were on the phone with each other moments before the incident occurred.

“She asked me, ‘Can you stay on the phone with me,’” Cortland siad. “I said, ‘Yeah I’ll stay on the phone with you.’ She hung up on me and that was it.”

Cortland later got a message from Jackson’s wife, Kayonna Smith, who is stationed in New York. The messaged shared that she saw Jackson’s location not moving and staying in the same spot.

“She was never hit by a car,” Smith said. “For her injuries, she had severe head trauma, a broken socket, eye socket and a broken nose.  She was, she’s a tiny, she’s a tiny little thing. So, like, if she did get hit by a car, she would have had bruises in other places like broken bones and anything like that.  She was found in the road.”

Her family said they believe that someone out there knows something or saw something. They remember who Jackson was and they continue to search for answers.

“I had 23 years with Ma ‘Kiyah, so it hurts more because every day, I talked to her every day,” Cortland said. “Now I can’t talk to her. Imagine how that feels to not be able and do what I’m used to doing, picking up the phone and talking to my kids.

Smith said, “She loved to dance. She loved music. She loved kids and she loved animals. She was just very spiritual. She was just such a sweet person.”

A rally will be held to honor Jackson’s life on June 13. The event will be at Mc Millan Park, in Jesup at 6:30 p.m.

If you have any information about what occurred on March 27, you are asked to contact the Jesup Police Department.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The global quest for the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy has officially begun, sparking enthusiasm among local soccer clubs and coaches who believe this event will boost the sport’s popularity in the area.

The United States launched its campaign with a match against Paraguay on Friday night, igniting excitement among fans nationwide. This fervor has reached the Tri-Cities, where numerous local athletes are attending the games.

“These kids weren’t around the last time the World Cup graced our country,” remarked David Strickland, the boys’ soccer head coach at Science Hill High School, in a conversation with News Channel 11. “Now, they have the chance to watch their idols compete on our home fields. Many high schoolers are traveling to see the matches, heading to Atlanta and other venues to witness the world’s top-tier soccer firsthand.”

On the field in Bristol, excitement is palpable as Bristol Rhythm AFC ranks as the second-best team in the National Premier Soccer League.

Diane Smith, the owner of Bristol Rhythm, expressed to News Channel 11 that the World Cup, combined with thrilling local soccer action, plays a significant role in fostering the sport’s growth.

“I think exposure is everything. Kids become passionate about sports when they can see the best athletes in the world doing incredible things. A lot of the young players in our area already know who Messi is, who Mbappé is, who Christian Pulisic is, and now they’ll get to watch the world’s best compete on the biggest stage right here in North America. That excitement trickles down into youth soccer participation, attendance at local matches, and overall interest in the sport. I truly believe we’re going to see more kids playing soccer because of this World Cup.

“Bristol Rhythm’s success this season is something we’re very proud of, but it’s also something we’ve worked incredibly hard to build. When we started Bristol Rhythm AFC, the vision was bigger than wins and losses. We wanted to give this region a team it could rally around and create something that brought people together from both Tennessee and Virginia. To be sitting at 5-0, with five clean sheets, and ranked No. 2 in the nation is exciting, and what makes it even better is seeing the community embrace the club. The success on the field at the national level is helping put Bristol on the soccer map, and that’s good for everyone.”

-Diane Smith, Bristol Rhythm owner

For the players Strickland coaches, this World Cup is about much more than a trophy.

“They get to see people that dedicate their lives into being the elite. And it’s a moment for them to absorb that kind of passion and that kind of skill, because they’re working on it all the time also, and they know how difficult it is to reach that level,” Strickland told News Channel 11.

The US’s next game will be against Australia on June 17.