Lubbock Man Killed by Childress Police After High-Speed Chase Throughout Northeastern South Plains and the Southern Panhandle
A Lubbock man was killed last Friday (Mar 23) after leading multiple police agency officers on a high-speed chase through several counties and ending after Childress Police officers shot him.
KFDX in Wichita Falls reports the incident began just after midnight last Friday when a Donley sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over 20-year-old Steven Cortez for speeding; he was driving at speeds around 100 mph. Cortez did not pull over, so the officer pursued, chasing Cortez through Donley County, Hall County, and into Childress County, where officers there deployed a spike trap on U.S. 287 that stopped Cortez’ vehicle.
Cortez then fled the vehicle with a gun and tried to enter a store, but couldn’t get in because it was closed. Cortez raised his gun towards police but Childress Police Officers fired and shot Cortez.
Cortez was taken to a local hospital where he later died.