A morning traffic stop in East Lubbock quickly escalated into a fatal shootout Monday after a 20-year-old driver opened fire on responding officers.
Shooting In East Lubbock
According to the recent press release from the Lubbock Police Department (LPD), officers responded to a call of shots fired on the 2100 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard just before 10 a.m. on Monday, August 24.
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Witnesses stated a man was driving his passenger car with the window rolled down firing a gun into bushes around the Canyon Lakes area.
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LPD soon discovered the driver in question: 20-year-old James Mayer. A traffic stop was conducted on Mayer at 19th and MLK as he was traveling north. Officers ordered him to show his hands, which Mayer refused. Instead, he brandished a firearm and began shooting at the police officers before fleeing in his vehicle.
The Car Chase with a Fatal Ending
Police attempted to barricade his vehicle which forced him to drive through a parking lot. When a second barricade was made, Mayer lost control and crashed into a parked car.
Mayer quickly exited his damaged vehicle and raised his firearm at the pursuing officer, prompting them to open fire. Lifesaving measures were performed until EMS arrived, but Mayer was pronounced deceased later at University Medical Center from the gunshot wounds.
The officer who shot Mayer was placed on routine administrative leave after discharging their weapon. This investigation is ongoing.
Lubbock Crime Rates vs. Surrounding Areas: Which Cities Are Safest?Think of moving slightly out of Lubbock? This is how our surrounding areas compare to Lubbock crime rates, according to crimegrade.org, which looks at both property and violent crime in its rankings. Spoiler alert: they are all at least marginally safer (or significantly safer), as Lubbock carries a D- rating.
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