LUBBOCK, Texas – Two Texas Tech police officers were injured, and a suspect was fatally shot during an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday morning in the parking lot at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech Police Chief Kyle Bonath provided an account of the incident, describing it as a situation where “two incidents overlapped,” reports KETK. Around 12:45 a.m., officers conducting routine patrols were handling an unrelated traffic violation when they noticed a suspicious truck near Gate 3 of the stadium.
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The vehicle, which had its door open and was not in a designated parking space, prompted officers to approach. A person near the truck, observed making “furtive gestures,” pulled out a gun and began firing, according to police reports. Both officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who died at the scene, reports KCBD.
Chief Bonath stated there was no indication the suspect was affiliated with Texas Tech University or the local Lubbock area. Authorities have so far been unable to confirm whether the truck was owned by or stolen by the suspect.
Both Texas Tech Officers Expected to Recover
Both officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported to University Medical Center and are expected to recover. Police have not released their names at this time.
Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec sent an email to students following the incident, commending the swift response from law enforcement and assuring that there was no ongoing threat to the campus community.
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The Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit has launched an investigation into the shooting. Additional details, including the suspect’s identity and background, have not yet been disclosed.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
The UvaldeFoundationForKids, a national non-profit, released the following statement praising the two responding officers to this incident:
“These two officers serve as an example of every day acts of heroism, rare but powerful as threats against our campuses continue nationwide. This situation could have been far worse. Their diligence, possibly prevented far worse. We do not know what this individual was planning specifically on campus, but their intervention ended the threat, plain & simple. We will do all we can to both support them & recognize their efforts to protect students, will not go unnoticed.”
The foundation also announced that it will be “launching community safety patrols for the Texas Tech University school community” as well as launching an initiative to aid the injured officers through its Back The Blue Emergency Fund.
