Joshua Bartlett, 38, was killed on July 15, 2021, in Levelland, Texas, while serving as a Sergeant with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant Commander of the SWAT team. A combat-wounded U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq, Bartlett was shot during an exchange of gunfire in an 11-hour standoff that began after officers responded to a report of a possibly armed individual. He was taken to Covenant Health Levelland and later pronounced dead; three other officers were wounded.

The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Omar Soto-Chavira, who barricaded himself in a house, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, and was arrested and charged with capital murder. He was held on bonds totaling $1 million. The trial was moved from Hockley County to Lubbock County by agreement of prosecution and defense. Multiple agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lubbock Police, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, Homeland Security, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshal’s Office, were involved in the investigation.

The death prompted statewide condolences and local efforts to support Bartlett’s family, including memorial funds and scholarships and flags at county buildings lowered to half-staff. If anyone has information about the standoff or knew Sergeant Bartlett, please share what you know.