LEVELLAND, TX – More information regarding the officers who were shot in rural West Texas has been released Friday.
According to Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia the situation with Omar Soto-Chavira, 22, began at around 11 a.m. on Jul. 15 after Chavira was pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper for reckless driving. During the traffic stop the trooper reported that the Chavira had tried to bait him into a confrontation.
Levelland Police were alerted that the white Chevy pickup was heading back to Levelland. Later that day, at around 1:15 p.m., LPD were once again contacted regarding Chavira. This time the call was from a neighbor who was concerned about neighbor who was "acting strangely" and "was walking around with a large gun."
Multiple Officer Shot in Levelland (Hockley County News Press)
Police Chief Albert Garcia (Hockley County News Press)
Standoff in Levelland (Contributed Video)
Once the police arrived on scene they spotted the white Chevy which prompted them to call in a negotiator. The negotiations did not last long as Chief Garcia claimed that the man was acting very hostile. This hostility led Chavira to open fire on the officers from out the front door of the residence on the 1300 block of Kent.
Four officers were shot during the gun fight. One of the officers, Sgt. Josh Bartlett, SWAT Leader for Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, died from his injuries. A Levelland PD officer, Sgt. Shawn Wilson, required immediate surgery but is expected to survive. The other two officers were treated and released.
Once the gun fight took place Levelland PD called in the Hockley County Sheriff's Office, the Lubbock SWAT Team, the FBI and ATF. Here is an exclusive video obtained by San Angelo LIVE! of the standoff.
After Chavira shot the officers he proceeded to barricade himself inside of the home. This lead to an 11-hour standoff. During which law enforcement filled the house with massive amounts of chemical munitions.
It is unclear how the standoff ended but Chavira was taken to the hospital prior to going to jail. So far Chavira has not been booked into the either the Lubbock County Jail or the Hockley County Jail.
The Texas Rangers have taken over the case.
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