Around 3:13 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2019, Texas Department of Public and Safety troopers attempted to pull over a vehicle for a minor traffic violation in Midland, Texas. The driver grabbed a rifle and began firing at the patrol car before heading towards Odessa. Along his route, the shooter, Seth Ator, opened fire on random bystanders and motorists. The gunman then hijacked a USPS mail carrier’s vehicle, continuing his shooting rampage until authorities forcefully ended the chase at a movie theater parking lot in Odessa, Texas. Officials say the gunman was earlier fired from his job with a trucking company, but that his behavior had already been erratic prior to his firing. So far, no motive has been established for the incident that left seven dead and 25 other injured. (CNN)
Date of event: August 31, 2019
Impact:
7 fatalities; 25 injured (as of September 2, 2019)
Related Resources:
- Viewpoints in Homeland Defense and Security: Responding to High-Risk Active Shooters
-
Federal Firearms Laws: Overview and Selected Legal Issues for the 116th Congress [March 25, 2019]
- Viewpoints in Homeland Defense and Security: Responding to High-Risk Active Shooters
HSDL Featured Topic: Active Shooters
HSDL Search: Active Shooter