Texas Building Incident Leaves Community in Mourning as Details Emerge

On June 12, 2026, an active shooter terrorized the streets of Midland, leaving 11 people shot and one confirmed dead. The victim was not a stranger to the people of West Texas. He was their neighbor, their coworker, and for many, the familiar face behind home plate.

What Happened When the Shooting Began?

The first calls to dispatch came in at 8:03 a.m. Officers responding to reports of gunfire quickly found themselves in a situation far beyond a routine call. As the Midland Police Department reported, several officers were immediately pinned down behind their patrol vehicles as the shooter opened fire.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the suspect as 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal of Odessa, who had barricaded himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic at the 4600 block of West Wall.

From that position, Villarreal fired on both officers and bystanders before law enforcement established a perimeter around the building.

For those nearby, the chaos arrived without warning. One witness described stepping outside after seeing an 18-wheeler stopped in the road, assuming there had been a wreck, only to hear shots ring out moments later, with people around them dropping to the ground in confusion.

The same witness recalled seeing a person lying motionless on the service road, the severity of the scene becoming impossible to ignore.

Cell phones across the area lit up with emergency alerts. City officials explained that a geographic perimeter system allowed authorities to send targeted messages specifically to phones within the active zone, directing those people to shelter in place while the broader community received general incident notifications.

The standoff ended just after noon. Villarreal was tracked down using an unmanned drone and a police robot and was pronounced deceased shortly after.

“The active shooter incident has been successfully stopped,” a Midland police officer confirmed. The investigation, however, was far from over.

The Texas Rangers took official control of the scene. West Wall and Business 20, from Vasin Road to Loop 250, were expected to remain closed for 24 to 48 hours as investigators worked through the evidence.

Authorities also issued a public call for any cell phone footage, dashcam recordings, or security camera footage captured near West Wall Street, Highway 80, or Industrial Avenue, saying even a short clip could prove critical to piecing together the full timeline.

Who Was the Man Behind the Gun?

Villarreal was not an unknown name to law enforcement by the time Friday came around. Newsweek reported that just two nights earlier, on Wednesday, he had fired multiple shots at a Midland police officer during a traffic stop.

The officer was not injured and returned fire as Villarreal fled. His vehicle was later found abandoned, and a manhunt had been underway ever since.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that Villarreal was a green card holder from Mexico, granted legal permanent residency in 1993. He was wanted by the U.S. Marshals for attempted capital murder of a peace officer before Friday’s events unfolded.

His criminal record stretched back decades. Texas criminal history records show a 2009 conviction for unlawfully carrying a firearm in San Angelo.

He had also faced charges in 2003 and 2004 for unlawfully carrying a weapon and unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon, though both appear to have been dismissed through a plea agreement. Additional convictions for fraud, DUI, and public order crimes were also part of his history, according to DHS.

As of Friday afternoon, his relatives, including his mother, declined to comment. Investigators said they still did not know what triggered the shooting spree.

Who Was the Man the Community Lost?

Of the 11 people shot, nine were treated at Miller Memorial Hospital. Five were released. Three came out of surgery and were placed in recovery. One remained in surgery as of the last update Friday night. A tenth victim was treated at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa and was listed in fair condition but remained hospitalized.

Then there was Ed Scott.

The City of Midland confirmed Scott’s death through drone and robot footage captured at the scene. He worked for the city’s sanitation department, and officials described the news of his loss as “one of the hardest days” the organization had ever faced.

“Behind every employee badge is a husband or wife, a mother or father, a son or daughter, a friend, a teammate, and a person whose life touched countless others,” the city said in a statement. “Today, a family is experiencing a loss that words cannot adequately describe, and our hearts are with them.”

Scott was not just a sanitation worker. He was a fixture of West Texas athletic life, serving as a softball umpire and volleyball official for local colleges and high schools across the region.

To the coaches and players who knew him, he was someone who showed up game after game, brought steady humor to tense moments, and made the field feel like a better place.

His sister-in-law, Guadalupe Leyva Vasquez, shared the family’s statement publicly, confirming that Scott had been “tragically caught in the crossfire of an incident involving law enforcement.” The family asked for prayers and privacy, while also expressing gratitude to the first responders who had been on scene.

How Did Other People Who Knew Him Remember Ed Scott?

The City of Midland described Scott as “a loving father and husband and good person all the way around,” noting his deep involvement with local softball organizations. They asked the public to give his family space to grieve.

The tributes from the athletic community came quickly. Royce Islas, a fellow official who knew Scott personally, wrote on Facebook, “His quick wit, his jokes that could break any tension, and the genuine kindness he brought to every field and court made him someone we were all proud to stand beside. You will be missed Ed.”

Mirna Torres Amaya posted a tribute asking the community to surround Scott’s wife, Coach Laura Scott, and their children with prayers.

Stephanie Rendon, who had both played and coached around Scott over the years, wrote on Facebook, “From my playing days to my years of coaching, ED always knew how to make me laugh and bring a smile to those around him.”

The Alpine Fightin’ Buck Sports program, whose Lady Bucks softball team Scott had officiated for years, called his death “senseless and cowardly” and confirmed he had been a valued friend to their coaches.

“His dedication to the game, his kindness, and the relationships he built with so many throughout the years will always be remembered,” the post read.

Perhaps the most personal reflection came from Rocky Gutierrez, who noted on Facebook that he had just seen Scott on Monday, joking about softball and trading the kind of easy conversation that neither man could have known would be their last. “Rest easy my friend,” Gutierrez wrote.

How Is the Community Coming Together Now?

That evening, Midland gathered at Centennial Park for a prayer service. People of all ages stood shoulder-to-shoulder, listening to words of encouragement and holding space for the families forever changed by the day.

Midland County Commissioner Precinct 3 Steven Villela spoke to what that turnout meant, noting that ambulances had arrived from Rankin and Odessa, and that law enforcement had responded from communities across the region. “When one is in need, we’re always here,” Villela said.

The West Texas Food Bank deployed its disaster relief trailer to the scene, providing meals, water, and snacks to law enforcement still working the area. HEB also contributed with barbecue sandwiches and water for officers on duty.

For those looking to help, monetary donations are being accepted through the United Way at uwmidland.org/disaster, and through the Permian Basin Area Foundation at pbaf.org/donate. Additional donation opportunities are expected to be shared as needs are identified.

Governor Greg Abbott said he and First Lady Cecilia Abbott were “deeply saddened” by what he called a senseless act of violence, adding that he had been briefed on the situation and commended the swift response of Midland Police, DPS, and assisting agencies.

State Senator Kevin Sparks echoed those sentiments, calling it a heavy day for the Permian Basin and pledging that Midland would not face the days ahead alone.

For many in West Texas, Friday’s events carried the weight of a grief they had already carried once before.

The August 31, 2019, mass shooting that crossed through both Midland and Odessa remains a defining wound for the region, one that came just 28 days after El Paso. The alert system that notified residents of Friday’s active shooter threat exists, in part, because of that day.

The Leilah Hernandez Act, named for the 16-year-old who became the youngest victim of the 2019 shooting, created the Texas Active Shooter Alert System, which functions similarly to Amber Alerts and was credited with notifying thousands of residents to stay off the streets on Friday.

As the Midland Reporter-Telegram noted, it has not yet been seven years since the last mass shooting tied to this region. West Texas is no stranger to loss.

But familiarity with grief does not make it any lighter, and for the family of Ed Scott, no law, no alert system, and no prayer service can fill the space left behind by a man who was still cracking jokes at the plate just four days ago.