Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
A man allegedly armed with a gun was shot and wounded by El Paso police after another man had been shot in a late-night incident at a manufacturing facility in the Lower Valley, a police spokesman said.
The shooting occurred while employees were present at the Smurfit Westrock El Paso Container Plant about 11:30 p.m. Monday, June 23, at 7350 Stiles Drive near North Carolina Drive, police spokesman Sgt. Robert Gomez said.
The plant manufactures corrugated packaging such as boxes, trays and cases for industry, according to the company website.
El Paso Police Department officers responded to a call of a man with a gun, and arrived to find that the manager at the plant —identified as 46-year-old Leonardo Martinez of El Paso — had been shot and wounded, Gomez said.
When officers arrived, several employees where in the parking lot after evacuating the building, stated a news release issued by police spokeswoman Detective Judy Oviedo on Tuesday afternoon.
Police located Paul Ivan Gonzalez, 32, in the parking lot, where Gonzalez allegedly opened fire during a confrontation with officers and was shot and wounded, Oviedo stated. No officers were injured.
Both men were transported to hospitals in stable but critical condition, reported Channel 7-KVIA.
Criminal charges against Gonzalez, who is an El Paso County resident, are pending his release from the hospital, police said.
It’s not yet clear whether Gonzalez had any connection to the business, Gomez said. Police detectives continue the investigation.
As is standard practice, the police shooting is under investigation by the Crimes Against Persons Unit, the Internal Affairs Shooting Review Team and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Rangers.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 2 wounded in Lower Valley shooting involving El Paso police
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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