MCSO: Deputy shoots man in incident on I-20 Midlander ran into traffic on interstate, attempted to take a pickup

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A Midland man remained hospitalized Sunday night after being shot by a Midland County Sheriff’s Office deputy early Sunday morning, according to a press release from Sheriff Gary Painter.

Julio Perez, 28, was shot in an incident that began when MCSO received calls at about 12:40 a.m. about a possible wreck on eastbound I-20 near mile marker 149 and about someone running into traffic on eastbound Interstate 20 and the north service road, according to the release.

Occupants of two vehicles had been observing the man’s actions, according to the release. The man -- later identified as Perez -- approached one of the vehicles and attempted to jump on the hood. He then approached the second vehicle -- a four-door pickup -- and tried to touch a female passenger through a window.

Perez got into the pickup through a back passenger door, climbed into the driver’s seat and attempted to operate the vehicle. The driver had opened the door and fallen on the ground in an effort to escape Perez, according to the release.

When a sheriff’s deputy arrived on the scene, Perez ignored his verbal commands and attempted to drive off in the pickup. The deputy, who had called for assistance, fired his weapon through the windshield and hit Perez, who then got out of the vehicle and began walking on the north service road toward the deputy, according to the release.

Perez continued to ignore the deputies’ commands, and the lawmen fired additional shots, according to the release. The deputies used their Tasers, but the weapons were ineffective. Other officers who had arrived on the scene physically subdued Perez and applied first aid until EMS arrived to transport him to Midland Memorial Hospital. Perez had surgery, but his condition was unknown as of Sunday evening

Because the incident involved law enforcement, the Texas Rangers will assist in the investigation, Painter said.