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The suspect accused of fatally shooting a police officer during a standoff near Lubbock Thursday is in custody. Officials say 22-year-old Omar Soto-Chavira was arrested after barricading himself in a home in Levelland for about ten hours and firing at authorities.
Soto-Chavira is accused of shooting five officers, killing Lubbock County SWAT Commander Sergeant Josh Bartlett. Levelland Police Sergeant Shawn Wilson remains in the hospital in stable but critical condition, while the other officers were treated and released.
Levelland is a town of around 13,000 people located about 30 miles west of Lubbock.
"Our hearts are with the loved ones of Sgt. Josh Bartlett as the state of Texas mourns his tragic death," said Governor Greg Abbott. "Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, and Sgt. Bartlett's murder is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices faced by law enforcement every day. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to pray for the family and friends of Sgt. Bartlett as they mourn his death, and we also pray for the other three law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty."
- Read a statement from the Lubbock County Sheriff's Department