One man was declared deceased on Wednesday after he barricaded himself in his home for several hours after a disturbance with deputies, leading to an altercation with police and an officer-involved shooting.
Rosendo Gino Rodriquez, 49, was shot in an altercation with Midland police after he attacked officers with a machete in a confined space.
The Midland Police Department originally responded to assist the Midland County Sheriff’s Office on a disturbance call involving Rodriquez at approximately 10:18 a.m. in the 2700 block of Washington Avenue. Midland County mental health officials were conducting a welfare check on Rodriquez when he acted aggressively toward them. Rodriquez barricaded himself inside the residence and deputies retreated after hearing possible gunfire. A Midland County deputy received minor injuries from shattered glass as a result of the incident and was treated on scene.
MPD negotiators attempted multiple times to make contact with Rodriquez but were unsuccessful. Several hours later, officers entered the home, found Rodriquez in a small bathroom and used non-lethal bean bag rounds in an effort to force Rodriquez to drop a machete he was holding, but he was unaffected. Rodriquez was in close proximity to officers and swung his weapon at them, resulting in the use of deadly force. Rodriquez struck one officer with the flat side of the machete during the altercation.
This incident remains under investigation. Per normal protocol, an external investigation into the officer-involved shooting will be completed by the Texas Rangers, and two officers involved in the altercation, who are identified as Sgt. Mitch Russell and Officer Sean Sharp, have been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation. Next of kin has been notified.
###Media Contact: Public Information Officer Sara Bustilloz