TX SWAT Commander Killed, 4 Officers Wounded at Standoff
Sgt. Josh Bartlett of the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office was taken to Covenant Health Levelland hospital and died of his wounds, according to a sheriff's office statement. Bartlett was the commander of the sheriff's tactical unit.

Sgt. Josh Bartlett of the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office was shot during the standoff and died at an area hospital. (Photo: Facebook)
A Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT commander was killed and four other deputies were wounded during an hourslong police standoff with a gunman Thursday in the West Texas city of Levelland. Authorities say the suspect was captured just before midnight.
Thursday's incident began when Lubbock SWAT team members responded around 2:15 p.m. to reports of shots fired, Fox News reports.
Three of the wounded officers were taken to a Lubbock hospital. Sgt. Josh Bartlett of the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office was taken to Covenant Health Levelland hospital and died of his wounds, according to a sheriff's office statement. Bartlett was the commander of the sheriff's tactical unit.
Levelland police Sgt. Shawn Wilson was in critical but stable condition in University Medical Center in Lubbock after surgery, Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia said. The other three officers were treated for minor injuries and had been discharged from the hospital, he said.
Omar Soto-Chavira, 22, was injured when he was taken into custody around 11:30 p.m. at a home in Levelland, CBS reports. The suspect was being transported to a hospital in Lubbock for treatment, Garcia said.
Law enforcement used robots to enter the home, then deployed gas which drew Soto-Chivara out of the residence, Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe said at the briefing.
Soto-Chavira bonded out of jail just four days ago after being accused of assaulting family members, KAMC-TV of Lubbock, reported.
More Special Units

Constellis’ AMK9 to Donate K9 Officer to Currituck County Sheriff’s Office
AMK9 will donate a fully trained K9 officer to the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. DAX, a 20-month-old Belgian Malinois, joined his new handler and has begun training at the Constellis Training Center.
Read More →
Ohio’s Statewide Drone First Responder Program to Take Flight
Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR Pilot Program will equip municipalities with advanced drone systems, deliver comprehensive training for first responders, and enable FAA-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
Read More →
Louisiana Motor Sergeant Dies from Injuries Suffered in June “Intentional” Crash
A motor officer, Sgt. Caleb Eisworth was on his way to participate in a funeral escort when he was struck by another vehicle.
Read More →
Tennessee Officers Say Man Tried to Detonate IED During Arrest
Inside the bedroom officers found what they believed to be an IED. The officers evacuated the house and called for the Chattanooga Police Bomb Squad and ATF agents.
Read More →
Florida School Officer Dies After On-Duty Medical Emergency
Sergeant Greg Graff was “preparing school leaders for the upcoming year during a safety training program at Clearwater High School,” the school district said.
Read More →
Grenade is Missing from Explosion That Killed 3 LASD Deputies
ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper said definitively that only one grenade detonated at the facility on July 18.
Read More →
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Names Deputies Lost in Friday Explosion
LASD said Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn who were all assigned to Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail were killed in the incident.
Read More →
Maryland State Police Helicopter Rescues Victim from Overturned Boat in Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 crew, the MSP helicopter based in California, Maryland, were monitoring the county dispatch radio, overheard the dispatch, and self-launched.
Read More →3 Los Angeles County Deputies Killed in Explosion Friday Morning
At press time the names of the deputies had not been released. Sheriff Robert Luna said one had served for 19 years, another for 22 years, and another for 33 years.
Read More →
Georgia Sheriff’s Deputy Fired After K-9 Dies in Hot Patrol Vehicle
The vehicle’s air conditioning failed because of a malfunctioning compressor and its heat alarm did not function, according to the sheriff’s office.
Read More →