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At least 24 people were shot dead and five people were killed Saturday in a series of shootings in the Midland and Odessa regions of Texas, said a city official from Odessa to Fox News.
A suspect, identified by local police as a white man in his thirties, was shot dead in an Odessa cinema, local police said.
Odessa police chief, Michael Gerke, said the count of the victims included three wounded police force officers and at least 21 civilians. It was unclear whether the death toll included the shooter, nor whether this number was included among the 21 civilian casualties.
City spokesman Devin Sanchez told Fox News that the incident began with the killing of a Texas state soldier at 3:17 pm during a stoppage of traffic on Interstate 20 in Midland County. After this shooting, the suspect continued his run in the west of Odessa and shot another person on Interstate 20 before going around the east of the city, where there were many scenes and victims, said the official. At one point, the subject stole a mail truck and there were other shootings, the official said.
The suspect then returned to the east of the stolen mail truck to the movie theater, where various law enforcement agencies contacted him. Shots were exchanged and the suspect was killed.
Gurke refused to name the suspect but said that he had an idea who this man was.
Midland mayor Jerry Morales told Fox News that a Midland police officer and an Odessa police officer had been shot dead in addition to the soldier. Their conditions were not known immediately.
The Odessa Medical Center Hospital reported 13 gunshot victims, seven of them in critical condition. Two others were in serious condition and one patient died. A victim, a 17-month-old child, was flown to a Level 1 trauma center in Lubbock, about two hours north of Odessa. The other two victims were treated and released Saturday night.
The Midland Memorial Hospital stated that he was treating six injured victims. Three of these victims were in critical condition and three in stable condition. At least
"I was born and grew up here, I do not remember anything like it," Morales told Fox. "It's hard to swallow – it's hard to understand. […] There is a lot of learning going on. It was very fast. "
The murder of the suspect ended a chaotic afternoon, during which the police initially reported the existence of two fencers in two separate vehicles. At a press conference on Saturday night, Gerke said the police believed that the suspect killed at the cinema was the only gunman.
The Texas Department of Public Security (DPS) has urged the public to avoid the I-20 in Odessa, Midland and Big Spring. Residents of Midland and Odessa were also invited to stay indoors.
Dustin Fawcett was sitting in his truck at a Starbucks in Odessa when he heard at least six shots sounding less than 50 meters behind him.
At first, he thought it might be a tire that was punctured, but he heard more gunshots and spotted a white sedan whose passenger window had been broken. It was then that he thought, "Oh, man, that's a shot."
Fawcett, 28, a transportation consultant in Odessa, "went out to make sure everyone was safe," but found that no one had been touched by the shot fired nearby. He said that a little girl was bleeding, but that she had not been touched, and that he discovered that she was stung in the face.
Fawcett said the authorities reacted quickly and that, when the police had pulled out their guns and their vests, he knew that "it's not a car." It's something else, it's something bigger. "
President Trump has been informed of the shooting and the White House is monitoring the situation, said White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.
Justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec tweeted that Attorney General William Barr was monitoring the situation.
"Attorney General Barr has just been informed of the shooting in Texas. The FBI and law enforcement are fully engaged. More to follow, "later tweeted Trump.
Vice President Mike Pence, speaking shortly before leaving for a trip to Poland, told reporters, "Our hearts are torn apart for the families of loved ones who were injured, of people who lost their lives in as a result of this latest mass shooting accident, and the President and I remain absolutely committed to working with the leaders of both parties in Congress to take such steps so that we can address this plague of atrocities of mass in our country. "
Texas Governor Greg Abbott decried what he called a "senseless and cowardly attack."
"The State of Texas and the Department of Public Safety are working closely with local law enforcement to provide the necessary resources and bring justice to this heinous attack," Abbott said in a statement. "I thank the first responders who acted quickly and admirably under pressure, and I want to remind all the Texans that we will not let the Lone Star State be invaded by hatred and violence." We will unite, as always do. the Texans, to react to this tragedy. "
"I am horrified to see such an insane act terrorize the good people of the Permian Basin," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. "Thanks to the brave first responders from the states and local authorities who worked swiftly to put an end to this vicious attack." I asked my law enforcement division and my service team. 39 Help Victims of Crime to Help, Please Join Angela and Me As We Pray for Comfort for Those Affected by this Violent Act. "
"Tonight we are only one with the entire Midland-Odessa community, especially the victims of this horrible tragedy.I want to thank the forces of order and the first responders. for their courage in an impossible situation, "said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "In the face of unspeakable violence, the Texans have already met, we will do it again."
The other Texas senator, Ted Cruz, said he and Heidi were "torn apart by this heinous attack."
"We are grateful to the police officers who heroically put their lives in danger and acted quickly to stop the gunman and save others.Their courage prevented even more senseless deaths, and we honor their tireless commitment to protect us all, "Cruz said. "We Texans are holding together tonight, united against all forms of hatred and violence."
Saturday's shooting took place exactly four weeks after an armed man killed 22 people and wounded 24 others at a Walmart in El Paso. The suspect in this massacre reportedly told the authorities that he was targeting the Mexicans. Earlier this week, Abbott held two meetings with lawmakers on ways to prevent further shootings in Texas.
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The University of Texas Permian Basin was locked up for several hours. The lockdown was raised around 18:30.
Odessa is about 20 miles southwest of Midland. Both cities are more than 300 miles west of Dallas.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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