TX SWAT Commander Josh Bartlett ID’d As Victim Fatally Shot Thursday During Levelland Standoff

HOCKLEY COUNTY, TX. (THECOUNT) — Josh Bartlett has been identified as the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Commander killed during a standoff in Hockley County Thursday afternoon.

Bartlett was killed, and three other officers were wounded, during a standoff in Levelland Thursday.

According to reports, Bartlett responded to a call of a suspect “possibly armed,” in the 1100 block of 10th Street in Levelland around 1 p.m. Thursday.

At some point, the “situation escalated” and the officers were ambushed.

Bartlett was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead of gunshot injuries.

The other wounded officers were transported to area hospital with undisclosed injuries.

The following is a press release from LCSO:

The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of our own, tonight, SWAT Commander Sergeant Josh Bartlett.

The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team responded to the 1100 block of 10th Street in Levelland at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 15th to assist the Levelland Police Department for reports of a barricaded subject with reports of shots fired.

Shortly after arrival, gunfire was exchanged and Sgt. Bartlett was shot. Sgt. Bartlett was transported to Covenant Medical Center in Levelland with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced deceased.

The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office continues to work with The Levelland Police Department, The Texas Department of Public Safety, The Lubbock Police Department, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, Homeland Security, FBI, and US Marshal’s office to find a resolution to the current situation.

We appreciate the public’s support during this difficult time and ask for continued prayers for his family, both blood and blue.

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Geo quick facts: Hockley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 22,935. Its county seat is Levelland. The county was created in 1876, but not organized until 1921. It is named for George Washington Hockley, a secretary of war of the Republic of Texas – Wikipedia.