Hockley County capital murder trial to be set in Lubbock

The Lubbock County Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement to provide a courtroom for a Hockley County capital murder trial involving the 2021 shooting death of a Lubbock County SWAT commander.

The agreement makes Hockley County responsible for the full cost of the trial, including housing of the defendant, Omar Soto-Chavira, at the Lubbock County Detention Center.

The trial is set to begin with jury selection in September and will use the 237th District Court's courtroom.

Soto-Chavira is accused of shooting and killing Sgt. Joshua Bartlett, a nine-year veteran of the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, during a July 15, 2021 standoff in Levelland.

Bartlett and the SWAT team he led traveled to Levelland, where police were engaged in a standoff with a man, later identified as Soto-Chavira, who shot at officers.

Earlier in the day, Levelland police responded to the 1100 block of 10th Street, where residents reported a man lying on the ground holding a large weapon described as a rifle, according to the arrest warrant.

The man, identified as Soto-Chavira, retreated to his home when police arrived.

A Levelland police negotiator arrived at the scene, but Soto-Chavira reportedly refused to communicate and shot at police, who returned fire.

Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia called the Lubbock County Sheriff's SWAT team for backup, the warrant states.

Immediately after the SWAT team arrived, Soto-Chavira reportedly began shooting again.

One of the bullets struck Bartlett in the neck, while another bullet struck Levelland police Sgt. Shawn Wilson in the head. Another Lubbock County Sheriff's Deputy was struck by a bullet in the hand, the warrant states.

The officers returned fire and the injured officers were taken to the hospital.

Bartlett was taken to Covenant Medical Center in Levelland, where he died.

Soto-Chavira was arrested later that night when the SWAT team forced its way into his house.

He was taken to UMC for treatment for a gunshot wound he reportedly suffered during the shootout with the SWAT team, officials said.

Capital murder carries a punishment of life without parole or the death penalty.

The case was initially moved to Johnson County in January 2023. However, more than a year later, the case was transferred to Lubbock County.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hockley County capital murder trial to be set in Lubbock