MERTZON, Texas — The West Odessa homicide suspect who was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting has been identified as 26-year-old Trevor James Myrick, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The pursuit lasted more than 24 hours, spanned over five counties and ended on Tuesday night.
The whole situation started at 10:24 a.m. Monday morning, when the Ector County Sheriff's Office said a man, now identified as 26-year-old Trevor James Myrick, approached a homeowner, identified as 74-year-old Ronald Wayne Irwin, in the 5700 block of Greenway in Ector County.
According to Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis, Myrick asked to borrow Irwin's phone, but Irwin denied him. ECSO officials say that is when Myrick allegedly killed Irwin and stole his vehicle, a black Mustang convertible. Originally, authorities believed that Irwin was killed by gunfire. According to the Lea County Sheriff's Office, Myrick struck Irwin with the stolen Ford Mustang, resulting in Irwin's death.
According to a Facebook post from the City of Odessa, after Myrick left the 5700 block of Greenway, authorities conducted an intensive search for a car matching the black Mustang that led police on a chase. According to a Facebook post from the City of Odessa, after Myrick left the 5700 block of Greenway, authorities conducted an intensive search for a car matching the black Mustang that led police on a chase.
Then, at 10:50 a.m. Monday, law enforcement officers were alerted on Highway 80 and Faudree by a person who had been targeted by gunfire from the fleeing vehicle.
A statement released by the City of Midland said that they were aware of the situation and that the person, Myrick, driving the vehicle "is believed to be connected to a recent homicide and carjacking incident in the Odessa area."
Newswest 9 was told that both ECISD and MISD campuses went into a "secure status".
Secure status means all of the students and staff are to remain indoors. No one enters or exits while continuing to operate on a regular schedule inside the building.
As of 11:53 a.m. Monday, the secure status was lifted for both ECISD and MISD campuses.
At 12:59 p.m. Monday, NewsWest 9 was able to confirm with the Texas DPS that Myrick crashed the Ford Mustang in Mertzon, Texas and stole a tan Chevrolet Tahoe. The Tahoe was owned by a man named Jose Cuevas, who was working at the time of the alleged theft.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, Myrick ditched the Tahoe and ended up on foot in Irion County on Ranch Road 2469, six to eight miles outside of Mertzon, where he evaded police Monday night until most of Tuesday.
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, shots were fired in the area of East Duncan Avenue and North Broadway Street across from Irion County High School. The area was taped off for multiple blocks after shots were fired.
On Tuesday at 9:39 p.m., Texas DPS told NewsWest 9 that the suspect was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting.
On Wednesday at 1:27 p.m., DPS released the name of the suspect.
Texas Rangers have been called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting.
NewsWest 9 will update this story if more information is provided.