According to press reports, four police officers were shot and one killed after encountering someone barricaded in a house in a small town in west Texas.

According to a Lubbock newspaper, the shooting occurred near Levelland, which is roughly 30 miles (50 kilometres) west of Lubbock.

The Lubbock Avalanche Journal said that it was unclear what sparked the confrontation with an armed individual locked inside a residence in Levelland.

Two of the cops were stated to be in critical condition by the newspaper.

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The call reporting someone who was “possibly armed” was made at 1:12 PM Thursday afternoon on the 1100 block of 10th Street as part of a barricaded subject situation.

Sergeant Josh Bartlett of the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department was the officer who died, according to the Associated Press.

Two of the policemen were LCSO deputies, one was a Levelland Police Officer, and the other was a Hockley County Deputy, according to the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.

Aerocare and a Lubbock EMS unit were dispatched to Levelland. Levelland Police, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lubbock Police, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and ATF were among the agencies who responded.

The sound of gunshots could be heard at about 6:15 p.m., with three rounds spaced about 5 seconds apart, according to the Associated Press.

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Three policemen were first reported injured by Levelland Police, but that number was later increased to four.

On social media, the Levelland Police Department stated:

“At this time, local law enforcement is dealing with a barricaded subject in the 1100 block of 10th Street, between Ave J & Ave I. There are three wounded Levelland Police Officers. All have been transported to Lubbock. Other agencies, including Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, DPS and Lubbock S.W.A.T., are onsite. Please avoid this area, and allow law enforcement to keep the area secure.”

Two policemen were critically injured, according to the Levelland Police Department.

People were urged to stay away from the area by Levelland Hockley Emergency Management.

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Covenant Health issued the following statement:

“We are aware of an incident that occurred near Covenant Health Levelland earlier this afternoon. As a precaution, we locked down the hospital to ensure the safety of our patients, caregivers, and visitors. We will remain under lockdown until any threat is clear. We have deployed Covenant security officers to the Levelland hospital as an additional security measure. We are supporting our community and law enforcement officers in Levelland and are keeping the Levelland community and the injured officers in our prayers.”