At least one person has been killed and 11 others wounded after a gunman opened fire in Midland, Texas, on Friday morning, triggering a massive police response and an hours-long standoff with the suspect.
Authorities said officers responded to reports of gunfire near West Wall Street in Midland, where multiple people were shot before the suspect barricaded himself inside a building.
Midland Mayor Lori Blong confirmed that 11 victims had been identified, with at least one person pronounced dead at the scene.
“We do have 11 known victims at this time,” Blong told reporters. “There’s at least one victim that is dead on the scene.”
Police Chief Greg Snow said officers quickly moved to secure the area after hearing gunfire and began evacuating people from nearby locations.
“Efforts to bring the standoff with the shooter to a safe resolution are ongoing,” Snow said in a statement.
Midland Memorial Hospital confirmed it received nine victims from the shooting. Hospital spokesperson Tasa Richardson said four patients were undergoing surgery, while five others were listed in stable condition.
The hospital was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution following the attack. While the main campus later reopened, the emergency department remained under restricted access as authorities continued to assess the situation.
Officials have yet to release details about the suspect, including his identity, possible motive, or whether he acted alone.
The shooting sent shockwaves through the West Texas city as residents were urged to stay away from the area while law enforcement agencies worked to contain the threat.
Midland, located between Fort Worth and El Paso, remains on high alert as negotiators and tactical teams continue efforts to end the standoff peacefully.
The investigation remains active, and authorities say additional information will be released as it becomes available.
