LUBBOCK, TEXAS — July 26, 2025 — The Lubbock Police Department has identified the victim in a Friday evening shooting at the Executive Inn as 34-year-old Keyarie Wartson. The shooting occurred at the motel located near the intersection of 44th Street and Avenue Q — a typically busy corridor on the south side of the city.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the scene around 6:46 p.m., following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, they discovered Wartson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Wartson was shot by an unidentified male suspect, who immediately fled the scene. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no suspects have been publicly named or apprehended as of Saturday morning.
Following the shooting, Wartson, though critically injured, managed to stagger into a nearby room seeking help. Witnesses reported hearing cries for assistance and then seeing a man covered in blood collapse just outside one of the motel units. Emergency medical personnel responded swiftly, and Wartson was transported by EMS to University Medical Center (UMC), where he was listed in serious condition late Friday night.
The Lubbock Police Department’s Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation. Officers spent several hours combing through the motel property, reviewing surveillance footage, and speaking with potential witnesses. The area around the Executive Inn was temporarily taped off as a crime scene, with multiple units present well into the evening.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting — especially those who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the motel between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. — to come forward. Lubbock Police stressed that even the smallest detail could be crucial in identifying and locating the shooter.
“This was a brazen act of violence that happened in broad daylight in a busy part of our city,” said LPD Public Information Officer Allison Mendez. “We are doing everything we can to find the person responsible. Our investigators are asking the public to check their doorbell cameras, vehicle dashcams, or any surveillance in the area that might assist in this case.”
The shooting has stirred concern among residents and business owners in the vicinity of 44th and Avenue Q, a location already known for transient traffic and safety concerns. Motel guests expressed shock at the violence, with one saying, “I heard the shots and hit the floor. This kind of thing is happening more often and it’s terrifying.”
As of now, no arrests have been made and no suspect description has been released. Wartson remains hospitalized, and his current condition has not been updated publicly. Police have not yet confirmed whether he knew the assailant or whether this was a random act.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Line at (806) 741-1000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Lubbock Police Department’s official website or mobile tip line.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more details become available. In the meantime, the Lubbock community remains on alert, hoping for answers and recovery for Keyarie Wartson.
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