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Midland Police Kill Shooter After at Least 5 Killed and 21 Injured, Officials Probe Reports of Possible Suspects

© REUTERS / Mike StoneA police officer stands near the suspects' vehicle after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative in Garland, Texas
A police officer stands near the suspects' vehicle after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative in Garland, Texas - Sputnik International
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At least five people were killed and 21 injured in a gun shooting spree on Saturday in the city of Midland, Texas, according to Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke.

Gerke said during the news conference on Saturday that the killer was a white man in his mid-30s. The name and motive of the suspect remain unknown. According to Gerke, the gunman opened fire from his vehicle and then hijacked a mail truck while continuing to gun down bystanders.

"Once this individual was taken out of the picture, there have been no more victims", Gerke told the news conference.

Earlier on Saturday, the mayor of the city of Midland, Jerry Morales, said that the gun shooting spree occurred shortly after 4 p.m. local time, with two or possibly three shooters targeting motorists on Interstate 20 and Highway 191, which connects the city of Midland to the city Odessa.

“They are shooting at random [...] We have two fatalities and up to 20 injuries”, Morales said, cited by The New York Times.

Morales said earlier that one of the shooters had been wounded and apprehended. “One suspect is in custody. I’m not sure if he is alive”, Morales said, cited by The New York Times.

Netizens shared alleged footage of the scene where a purported suspect was shot down.

According to the Midland Police Department, "It has been confirmed that the active shooter was shot and killed at the Cinergy in Odessa. There is no active shooter at this time. All agencies are investigating reports of possible suspects".

At least three police officers are among the wounded, CBS said earlier. Police confirmed later on Saturday that three law enforcement officers were injured.

Media reported earlier in the day, citing authorities, that at least 30 people were injured in connection with a mass shooting in the Texas cities of Odessa and Midland.

Following the first reports of an active shooter in the area, Midland and Odessa police issued statements urging local residents to avoid I-20 in Odessa, Midland and Big Spring, as authorities searched for 2 suspects who shot several people, including an officer.

One suspect was reportedly escaping a crime scene in a gold-colored vehicle and was armed with an unidentified rifle, CBS said earlier in the day.

A spokesman for the Odessa Police Department, Cpl. Steve LeSueur, urged residents to stay indoors while the search for shooters was active, local media reported earlier.

The campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) was reportedly shut down as well.

US President Donald Trump was told of the shooting in Texas and the White House has been monitoring the situation.

Trump confirmed that he had been told about the shootings by US Attorney General William Barr.

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has issued a statement regarding the gun massacre.

Earlier this month, the gunman - identified as Patrick Crusius - killed 22 and wounded over 20 when he opened fire with a military-grade assault rifle in a Walmart in a shopping center in El Paso, Texas.

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