Military

Texas Town Mourns SWAT Commander Killed in Deadly Shootout

July 20, 2021Joshua Skovlund
sergeant joshua bartlett

Sgt. Joshua Bartlett’s body is escorted to the medical examiner’s office Thursday evening. Screengrab courtesy of YouTube.

A Texas community is mourning the loss of a sheriff’s deputy killed in a shootout Thursday. Four officers were shot by a man who tried to provoke a confrontation with police earlier in the day. After an extended standoff at the man’s home, he opened fire on officers, killing Sgt. Joshua Bartlett, the commander of the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. Bartlett was transported to a local hospital, where he died. 


Bartlett will be laid to rest Friday at 10 a.m., according to an LCSO Facebook post. A large crowd gathered with American flags as a procession carried Bartlett’s body from the hospital. Local news outlet Everything Lubbock reported that flags are at half-staff around the small town. A memorial run was also planned. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Bartlett was also a US Army veteran.



The incident began when one of the gunman’s neighbors called police after witnessing the man walking around his house with a large gun, according to Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia. When police arrived, they found a white Chevy pickup truck that Texas State Troopers had been searching for after its driver had “appeared to be trying to bait” a trooper into some type of confrontation.


When police approached, Omar Soto Chavira, 22, retreated into his house, prompting police to call the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. Police tried to negotiate with Chavira, but he fired on officers, striking four of them. 


Bartlett was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Three other officers were shot, with one still in critical condition Monday, according to Garcia.


Chavira eventually surrendered to police after a 10-hour standoff, during which police punched holes in the walls and launched tear gas into the home. Garcia said Chavira had been wounded in the standoff but did not specify whether he had been shot.


Read Next: Texas National Guard Soldiers Held at Gunpoint in ‘Crazy’ Incident



Joshua Skovlund
Joshua Skovlund

Joshua Skovlund is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die. He covered the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France, multinational military exercises in Germany, and civil unrest during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. Born and raised in small-town South Dakota, he grew up playing football and soccer before serving as a forward observer in the US Army. After leaving the service, he worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. After five years as in paramedicine, he transitioned to a career in multimedia journalism. Joshua is married with two children.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved