Texas Shooting: Gunman Hijacks Postal Vehicle, Goes on Rampage in Odessa; Five Including Shooter Killed
At least five people were killed and 21 others shot in a mass shooting in and around the cities of Odessa and Midland in the US state of Texas on Saturday. According to the police, the gunman, described as a white male in his 30's, was among five dead.
Texas, September 1: At least five people were killed and 21 others shot in a mass shooting in and around the cities of Odessa and Midland in the US state of Texas on Saturday. According to the police, the gunman, described as a white male in his 30's, was among five dead. The shooter hijacked a US Postal Service vehicle and began firing at random in the area of Odessa and Midland, local media reports said. US: Shooting Reported During Football Match at Alabama High School, 10 Wounded.
The suspected shooter was gunned down by law enforcement agencies at the Cinergy community entertainment centre in the town of Odessa. "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," said the police. Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said that the suspect's motives remained unknown. US Mass Shootings: 29 Killed in Two Different Attacks Within 24 Hours.
Gerke also ruled out the possibility of there having been a second gunman, as authorities had initially warned, Efe news reported. According to a BBC report, irked at two Texas Department of Public Safety officers pulled over his vehicle on a Midland highway, the suspect first opened fire on the officers and, after driving away, began shooting at other people in several locations. He later abandoned his vehicle and stole a US Postal Service van.
In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that he was "horrified to see such a senseless act". In another statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said: "We will not allow the Lone Star State to be overrun by hatred and violence. We will unite, as Texans always do, to respond to this tragedy." US President Donald Trump, in a tweet, said he was being kept informed about the shootings in Texas.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2019 08:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).