A gunman opened fire near a veterinary hospital in Midland, Texas, around 8 a.m. Friday morning, killing at least one person and injuring 10 others.
Authorities in Texas said the suspect engaged in a two-hour standoff with police before barricading himself inside a building, according to The Associated Press.
He was later confirmed deceased, according to the city government’s post on social media. Officials did not provide further details on how the suspect died, and the motive remains unclear.
The shooting left at least 10 known victims, with one pronounced dead at the scene, per media reports. Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating nine of the injured victims at its facilities, five of whom were in stable condition, according to NBC News.
“Our thoughts and prayers are absolutely with the victims, and with their families,” Mayor Lori Blong said at a news conference.
Blong, who described the emergency response as an “all hands on deck” situation, asked residents to continue to avoid the area while officials continue to investigate the incident. Authorities noted there was an established family unification center at the hospital for relatives seeking information about the victims.
Police have not yet released any identifying details regarding the suspect or the 11 victims.
“Gov. Greg Abbott and first lady Cecilia Abbott are deeply saddened by the incident in Midland,” the governor’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said in a statement, according to CBS News. “Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Midland community.”
“Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” the city said in a post on X.
The incident marks the second major mass shooting the city has experienced in six years. In 2019, a gunman who had just been fired from his oil services job killed seven people and wounded 25 others, firing at random as he drove between the neighboring cities of Midland and Odessa, according to The Associated Press.
