UPDATE ON MANHUNT
On Monday, April 15, 2024, at around 10:30 a.m. law enforcement officers from the Ector County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a murder at a residence in Ector County. Upon arrival, the preliminary investigation determined the murder suspect, who is now identified as Trevor James Myrick, 26, of Hobbs, New Mexico, had stolen the victim’s black Ford Mustang and fled the scene.
Myrick is also accused of several carjackings in West Texas Monday as he eluded officers first by car and then on foot before reportedly being found in Irion County and shot to death by law enforcement there.
The stolen vehicle was located later that day by law enforcement, and Myrick then led authorities from multiple agencies on a cross-county pursuit that concluded in Irion County on RM 2469, approximately five miles northwest of Mertzon. Myrick then crashed the vehicle and fled on foot, leading to a multi-agency manhunt that lasted throughout the night and into the next day.
75-year-old Odessa man Ronald Wayne Irwin, was killed by Myrick before him leading authorities from several law enforcement agencies on a cross-county pursuit that concluded in Irion County on RM 2469, about five miles northwest of Mertzon. Myrick then crashed the vehicle and fled on foot, leading to a multi-agency manhunt that lasted throughout the night Monday and into Tuesday.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said on Monday he was on the scene in West Odessa where Irwin was killed by the carjacker. Griffis said earlier that reports indicated the man was shot, but that now it appears he died after the carjacker likely ran over him. Griffis also clarified Myrick stole a car in Lea County, N.M., and ended up in West Odessa where he asked a neighbor of the 75-year-old if he could use his phone and he was told no. He then asked the 75-year-old’s wife and was told no and then got into a scuffle with the man. He stole the victim’s car and ran over him.
Overnight on Monday, officials knew Myrick was on foot and that he had ditched a backpack as he ran from police. Drones and multiple law enforcement agencies were used overnight Monday and all day Tuesday. It had been reported on Tuesday that a San Angelo resident Joe Cuevas said the fugitive stole his Tahoe at gunpoint after he ditched the 2014 Ford Mustang stolen from the slain Odessa homeowner, Irwin.
The Mustang was left in Irion County and Cuevas said he was working on a fence when Myrick approached him and stole his Tahoe. Cuevas said the fugitive pulled a gun on one of his fellow workers, hopped into the Tahoe and nearly ran Cuevas over when he gunned the accelerator to continue fleeing from DPS, the sheriff’s deputies, and whoever else was trailing him by this time.
Two helicopters and a PC-12 Pilatus command post aircraft on Monday and Tuesday circled an area west-northwest of Mertzon. Myrick later ditched the Tahoe and took off on foot with officers in pursuit.
On Tuesday, April 16, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers located Myrick near the intersection of Duncan Ave. and North Broadway St. in Mertzon and an officer-involved shooting took place killing Myrick. The Texas Rangers are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
TxDPS put out a news release that details DPS troopers had located Myrick near the intersection of Duncan Ave. and North Broadway St. in Mertzon and an officer-involved shooting took place killing Myrick. Texas Rangers are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
