5 dead, 21 injured in Texas shooting
Shooter killed in West Texas after 5 people died, at least 21 injured, police say
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
(CNN)A gunman in West Texas who killed five people while firing from his vehicle and then from a hijacked mail truck was fatally shot by police in a gun battle in a movie theater parking lot, authorities said Saturday.
At least 21 people were injured, including some who were wounded by the shooter, Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said at a news conference. Gerke said three law enforcement officers were injured: one from the Department of Public Safety, one officer from the Midland Police Department and one officer from Odessa Police Department.
Gerke said the shooter was identified as a white male in his 30's. His name and a motive were not given.
Midland Mayor Jerry Morales told CNN the chain of events began when a Department of Public Safety officer pulled over a vehicle on an interstate highway Saturday.
"That's when he shot the officer and then took off and started shooting randomly," Morales said. "Everything happened after that."
At one point, the shooter ditched his vehicle and hijacked a US Postal Service truck, authorities said.
Law enforcement officers "trapped him in the parking lot of the Cinergy theater, and that's when they were able to engage him," Morales said.
Alex Wood told CNN he arrived at the theater complex and "next thing you know, I heard a pop, so, I flip the camera to where the theaters are and I just see a bunch of gunfire going off."
"I could see the officer walking up the mail van and discharging his weapon into it, and I believe that's when the shooter was killed," he said.
The conditions of those injured were not immediately known. Fourteen people were being treated at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas, according to CEO Russell Tippin. No ages or conditions were provided. The hospital has a family staging area with grief counselors and social workers to provide support, Tippin said.
This is the second mass shooting in Texas in August. Only four weeks ago, a gunman killed 22 people in a mass shooting in El Paso, located about 285 miles to the west of Odessa.
Democratic presidential candidate and Texas native Beto O'Rourke on Saturday reacted to news of this mass shooting by proclaiming, "We need to end this epidemic."
"Our hearts are with Midland, Odessa, and everyone in West Texas who has to endure this again. More information is forthcoming, but here's what we know: We need to end this epidemic," he tweeted.
Earlier in the day, Devin Sanchez, a spokesman for the City of Odessa, said someone in a gold Toyota was driving around shopping centers and shooting people from his vehicle.
The Odessa police Facebook page said the mail carrier truck was hijacked.
A law enforcement official told CNN that agents from the FBI's Midland office are responding to assist with the incident. The Midland office is a satellite office of the FBI's El Paso division.
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Dallas tweeted that agents would respond to the shooting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement Saturday, saying:
"The First Lady and I are heartbroken over this senseless and cowardly attack, and we offer our unwavering support to the victims, their families, and all the people of Midland and Odessa. The state of Texas and the Department of Public Safety are working closely with local law enforcement to provide resources as needed and deliver justice for this heinous attack."
CNN's Amanda Watts contributed to this report.
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Another day in Murica...
National Reaper Association.
In the 1960s they had the summer of love, 50 years later we have the summer of trump.some progress...great job dotard, you made america hate again
Our thoughts and prayers our hearts and prayers our hearts, thoughts and prayers...
blablablablablablablablablablablablalbablablablablafuckingbla.
At what point does the pushback against the 2nd start? When we all live in bunkers with roof mounted 50's on the family SUV? When going to wal-mart means full body armor and a SAW, (squad automatic weapon)?
If we are going to use 232 year old laws to govern weapons, then confiscate all weapons and hand out muskets.
Can we at least wait till the bodies cool down before we start spewing talking points.....never mind.
Yea, it's always too soon to talk about it, but that's because they happen so often.
Was just two weeks ago that trump was all for expanded background checks and one call from the NRA and he changed his tune. Every time there is a mass shooting, trumps chances of getting re-elected go down because he is owned by the NRA and refuses to do anything.
How many more mass shootings do you want to happen before we TALK about it and really DO something about it 1 more, 5 more, 20 more, 50 more....how many until it's someone you love.
This is something the 2a crowd never thinks about. I would be willing to bet that between this shooting, El Paso and Dayton, there were 2a gun freaks that were murdered where they stood. Even sadder? They were killed by weapons that were bought legally that they supported.
But I DO see a lot of people with the power to do something and NOT doing ANYTHING.
So doing absolutely nothing is the answer. Got it.