Move FM Global News

ODESSA, Texas – Five people are dead following a mass shooting on Saturday between the cities of Odessa and Midland, in West Texas.

Police ended the saga when they shot dead the assailant, but not before he had killed 4 people, and wounded twenty-one.

The shooter was described by police as a white man in his 30s. He was known to police.

The tragedy came in the middle of the Labor Day holiday weekend being marked throughout the U.S.

The drama began when the man was driving from Midland to Odessa on Interstate 20 when he was pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety officer at 3:17pm Saturday afternoon.

The man is alleged to have shot the officer, and drove off west on the Interstate 20 before taking the exit to Odessa. At this point he drove to a Home Depot, stopped the car and began shooting indiscriminately.

He then ditched his car and hijacked a postal van. He drove off in an easterly direction before ploughing into a stationary car situated outside the Odessa Cinergy multi-screen cinema complex. He then allegedly engaged police who had been pursuing him, in a gun battle. At this time he was shot dead.

“At some point the suspect stole a mail truck and ditched his car,” Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke told a news conference on Saturday night.

“The suspect has been shot and killed by an officer. We believe there is no immediate threat at this time. At this time there are a total of 20 shooting victims and 5 confirmed deaths,” the Odessa Police Department said in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Saturday night. “The Odessa Police Department would like to thank all assisting agencies and the public for their assistance during this tragic event,” the statement added.

Earlier Odessa police had issued a general alert while the shooting was in progress: “A subject is currently driving around Odessa shooting at random people. At this time there are multiple gunshot victims. The suspect just hijacked a U.S. mail carrier truck and was last seen in the area of 38th and Walnut. Everyone is encouraged to get off the road and use extreme caution! All law enforcement is currently searching for the suspect and more information will be released as soon as it becomes available,” the alert said.

A reunification center has been set up at 1010 E 8th Street At there Ector County Annexe through the Commissioner’s Court.

“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,” Texas Governor Abbott said Saturday night. “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. I thank the first responders who have acted swiftly and admirably under pressure, and I want to remind all Texans that 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.”

For Texas, it is the second mass shooting in the state in August. On the first Saturday of August (August 3), 22 people were killed at an El Paso Walmart store.

Now on the last Saturday of August a second shooting tragedy has hit the state.

(Photo credit: Tim Fischer | Midland Reporter-Telegram).