Texas police said a gunman has been shot dead by authorities following a shooting spree in the neighbouring cities of Midland and Odessa that resulted in at least five deaths and 21 more people injured on Saturday.
“There is no active shooter at this time,” Midland police said on Facebook.
The gunman was described as a white male in his mid-30s. He was cornered by the police and gunned down at a local movie theatre.
Previously, authorities reported multiple gunshot victims in the area. At least three law enforcement officers were among the casualties, and a small child was also injured. Medical officials said at least seven people remained in critical condition.
One attacker, two cars
At a press conference, Odessa police chief Michael Gerke said the rampage started after a traffic stop but said he was unable to shed any light on the suspect’s motive.
Later, authorities said the shooter had been pulled over after failing to signal a left turn. He then started shooting at the troopers who stopped him through the rear window of his car. One of the troopers had been wounded, and he is in serious but stable condition, authorities said.
Police initially assumed there were two shooters involved in the attack, but later said it was likely one person travelling in two different vehicles during the rampage.
Authorities cited reports earlier on Saturday of an active shooter at a local Home Depot store. They also a postal truck had been hijacked.
US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and added that FBI and other law enforcement agencies were “fully engaged.”
The latest shooting comes less than a month after a man killed 22 people in Texas city of El Paso, in an apparently racially motivated attack.
This article was originally published in DW.