Gerke said during the news conference on Saturday that the killer was a white man in his mid-30s. The name and motive of the suspect remain unknown. According to Gerke, the gunman opened fire from his vehicle and then hijacked a mail truck while continuing to gun down bystanders.
"Once this individual was taken out of the picture, there have been no more victims", Gerke told the news conference.
Earlier on Saturday, the mayor of the city of Midland, Jerry Morales, said that the gun shooting spree occurred shortly after 4 p.m. local time, with two or possibly three shooters targeting motorists on Interstate 20 and Highway 191, which connects the city of Midland to the city Odessa.
“They are shooting at random [...] We have two fatalities and up to 20 injuries”, Morales said, cited by The New York Times.
Morales said earlier that one of the shooters had been wounded and apprehended. “One suspect is in custody. I’m not sure if he is alive”, Morales said, cited by The New York Times.
Netizens shared alleged footage of the scene where a purported suspect was shot down.
According to the Midland Police Department, "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".
At least three police officers are among the wounded, CBS said earlier. Police confirmed later on Saturday that three law enforcement officers were injured.
BREAKING: Large police presence after reports of an active shooter in Odessa, Texas. pic.twitter.com/b5LfVBqV8N
— Breaking News Global (@BreakingNAlerts) August 31, 2019
Media reported earlier in the day, citing authorities, that at least 30 people were injured in connection with a mass shooting in the Texas cities of Odessa and Midland.
Following the first reports of an active shooter in the area, Midland and Odessa police issued statements urging local residents to avoid I-20 in Odessa, Midland and Big Spring, as authorities searched for 2 suspects who shot several people, including an officer.