Lubbock, TX – On Sunday, July 5, a tragic shootout in East Lubbock led to the death of a 17-year-old and left five others injured. The incident occurred early in the morning and quickly escalated into a chaotic situation, leading to multiple injuries and a fatality.
Details of the Shootout
At 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Lubbock Police Department (LPD) responded to a report of a fight in progress at the 2900 block of Parkway Drive. Authorities were alerted that the altercation involved more than 100 people, prompting LPD to send multiple officers to the scene for crowd control and safety.
Due to the large crowd and the high risk of violence, nearly every available officer was dispatched. Officers working the day shift were activated early to assist with the situation.
17-Year-Old Suspect Identified
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the suspect, 17-year-old Terrence Hastings Jr., opening fire on the crowd. An unnamed officer began pursuing Hastings, giving verbal commands for him to drop his weapon and stop fleeing. However, Hastings ignored these commands and continued firing.
The officer then fired back, striking Hastings and causing him to fall to the ground. Despite being shot, Hastings allegedly attempted to reach for his dropped weapon. In response, the officer fired once more, and Hastings was pronounced dead at the scene.
The entire sequence of events unfolded in less than 30 seconds from the time the officer arrived.
Injuries and Aftermath
Along with the tragic death of Terrence Hastings Jr., a total of five people were injured during the shootout. Three victims sustained serious injuries, while two others had moderate injuries.
The LPD news release clarified that the injuries sustained by the five victims were not caused by the officer’s gunfire. These injuries occurred before the officer shot Hastings.
Officer on Administrative Leave
In accordance with department policy, the officer who discharged their weapon has been placed on administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted.