The suspect had been wanted after police said he fired at an officer two days earlier.
MIDLAND, TX — A gunman killed one person and wounded 10 others Friday morning in Midland before barricading himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic, where police later found him dead after an hourslong standoff, authorities said.
The shooting brought a large police response to a busy West Texas roadway lined with hotels, auto shops and other businesses. Authorities identified the gunman as Victor Mata Villarreal, 45, of Odessa, and said he was already wanted in a separate attack on a Midland police officer earlier in the week. Police have not announced a motive for Friday’s shooting or released full details on how the victims were struck.
Police were called shortly after 8 a.m. to the area around West Wall Street, Industrial Avenue and Eisenhower Street after reports of an active shooter. Midland Police Chief Greg Snow said Villarreal opened fire on officers and bystanders before retreating into the vacant clinic. Several officers were trapped behind patrol cars during the gunfire and had to be removed with help from an armored vehicle. “We moved to deny more targets for this active shooter,” Snow said. No officers were shot. The response drew city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies to the scene while nearby businesses shut down or sheltered workers.
City officials identified the person killed as Ed Scott, a Midland employee who worked in solid waste. Friends and city officials described Scott as a husband, father and longtime local sports figure who served as a softball umpire and volleyball official. The Texas Department of Public Safety said 10 others were injured. Midland Memorial Hospital said four people brought there underwent surgery and five others were treated and released. Other victims were taken to hospitals in Midland and Odessa. Officials had not released the victims’ names, ages or conditions by Friday night. A family reunification center was opened at Midland Memorial Hospital as relatives sought information.
The standoff ended around midday after officers surrounded the building and sent in technology to search the site. Midland Mayor Lori Blong said robot and drone footage helped confirm Villarreal was dead inside. Police did not say how he died. The FBI sent special agents and victim services personnel to assist Midland police. The Texas Department of Public Safety also joined the investigation. Gov. Greg Abbott said he had been briefed and praised the swift response by Midland police, DPS and other agencies. Blong said local disaster response groups were activated to support families and first responders.
Authorities said Villarreal had fired multiple shots at a Midland police officer during a vehicle chase Wednesday, two days before the mass shooting. Investigators said the officer had tried to pull him over before Villarreal drove away and fired. The officer returned fire and was not injured. Villarreal’s vehicle was found empty a short distance away. Police have not said why the officer first tried to stop him. State officials said Villarreal was wanted on a charge of attempted capital murder of a peace officer when Friday’s shooting began. The Friday scene was about a half-mile from where the Wednesday shots were fired.
Records cited by authorities and court documents showed Villarreal had earlier encounters with law enforcement. He was convicted in 2009 on a charge of unlawfully carrying a firearm in San Angelo. He had also faced weapons charges in 2003 and 2004 that appeared to have been dismissed as part of a plea. A domestic violence case from 2008 ended after a no contest plea and later dismissal. Officials did not say whether any of those earlier cases had a direct link to Friday’s attack. Calls to numbers listed for some of Villarreal’s relatives were not answered or appeared disconnected Friday.
The shooting shook a city of about 140,000 people in the heart of Texas oil country, more than 300 miles west of Dallas. The Midland and Odessa area was the site of another deadly rampage in 2019, when a gunman who had lost his oil services job killed seven people and wounded about two dozen others while driving through the region. Friday’s shooting took place in an industrial and commercial area where workers described hearing bursts of gunfire. Andrea Mendias, who works near the clinic, said she heard what sounded like at least 40 shots and later saw heavily armed officers move into the parking lot.
Investigators continued processing the scene Friday night and had not announced any additional suspects. The next public updates are expected from Midland police and state investigators as they identify the wounded, review body camera and surveillance footage, and determine how Villarreal died.
Author note: Last updated June 13, 2026.