MPD RESPONDS TO SHOTS FIRED AT SW MIDLAND HOTEL

(Aug. 6, 2024)

MIDLAND, TEXAS -- At approximately 7:40 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 5, 2024), Midland Police responded to the Grand Texan Hotel and Convention Center -- 4300 W. Wall St. -- in reference to shots being fired from a room.

Upon arrival, officers observed the windows of a room to be shot out, MPD reported.

“The officers heard one gunshot while outside the room,” MPD reported. “Officers maintained cover of the room while additional officers evacuated multiple people from the surrounding rooms. Officers made multiple attempts to contact the person in the room; however, no contact was made.”

MPD SWAT operators arrived on scene and were able to breach the door of the room. SWAT utilized a drone and robot to enter the room where a male was observed on the ground. The male appeared to be deceased. SWAT operators entered the room and confirmed that the male was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The male was identified as Juan Fernando Hidalgo, 44, of Midland.

“The preliminary investigation found that Hidalgo had fired multiple rounds from a pistol, as well as multiple rounds from a rifle inside the room with some shots exiting the room,” MPD reported.

Hidalgo’s next of kin was notified. The investigation is on-going.