LEA COUNTY, N.M. — The 26-year-old suspect in an Odessa murder who drove a stolen vehicle through West Texas into Irion County has been identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as Trevor James Myrick of Hobbs, New Mexico.
Before Myrick arrived in Odessa, authorities say he reportedly stole a silver 2007 GMC Sierra pickup truck from a home April 13, in Jal, New Mexico. The owner of the pickup told a Jal Police Department officer he had just repaired the truck and left it unlocked with the keys in it. He told JPD he believed a juvenile he saw walking around the area may have taken the truck.
A Lea County Sheriff's Office report filed the morning of Monday, April 15 says a deputy was dispatched to Cain Electric Supply in Hobbs, New Mexico, in reference to larceny of copper pipe. The report was taken because the deputy was advised it was part of an ongoing investigation.
The company manager told the deputy a vehicle with two suspects came through one of the business's gates through a hole they had cut. They loaded reels of copper cable worth approximately $4,322. Video footage was submitted into evidence.
On Monday, Lea County SO was contacted by the Ector County Sheriff's Office in reference to the stolen truck. According to the LCSO report, Ector County deputies responding to a suspicious subject call found the stolen truck involved in the wire theft. ECSO deputies say they woke Myrick up, he drove away from the scene, then eventually abandoned the truck.
The LCSO report says the deputy learned Myrick came into contact with a woman Monday and stole her Ford Mustang at gunpoint. In the process, the woman's husband, identified as 74-year-old Ronald Wayne Irwin was killed.
"I learned that the suspect has been observed at least three times by law enforcement and evaded capture each time," the LCSO report said.
Myrick led authorities from multiple agencies on a cross-county pursuit ending in Mertzon, where he crashed the Mustang, then stole a Chevrolet Tahoe from Joe Cuevas and drove to RM 2469 in Irion County. Myrick crashed the Tahoe and ran away, leading to a multi-agency manhunt that lasted throughout the night and into the next day.
At approximately 4 p.m., DPS troopers found Myrick near the intersection of Duncan Avenue and North Broadway Street in Mertzon and Myrick was killed. The Texas Rangers are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
Texas DPS said there is no additional information in the ongoing case.
