Plainview, Texas — A quiet neighborhood in the Seth Ward area was shaken early Saturday when five people were found dead in what authorities are calling a shooting event at a home on Upchurch Street. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the Texas Rangers are now leading the investigation after being called in to assist the Hale County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders were sent to the 2700 block of Upchurch around 3:40 a.m. Saturday, after a call about an active and deadly situation. When officers arrived, four adults were already dead at the scene. A fifth person died shortly after at Covenant Hospital‑Plainview.
Among the deceased were Hector Alonso Sanchez, 28; Tanya Paola Valadez Rangel, 30; and Rosalba Saenz Rodriguez, 47 — all pronounced dead where they were found. Also killed was Saul Villa, 33, whom DPS identified as the person responsible for the shooting. Reily Joseph Zavala Barrientos, 21, later died at the hospital from injuries sustained in the attack.
Officials with the Department of Public Safety emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public, but stopped short of providing a motive or details about what led up to the violence. The Texas Rangers have taken over the probe and are expected to release more information as their work continues.
Neighbors in Seth Ward described the early morning as unusually quiet before the sirens broke it apart. Some who live near the scene said they were awakened by the sound of police radios and helicopters, an unsettling reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded just blocks away.
Plainview Independent School District issued a statement saying the community is struggling with the news and asked residents to show compassion, patience, and respect for the families affected. School leaders said they are waiting for additional confirmed details from law enforcement before sharing more publicly.
For now, families of the victims and neighbors in the tight‑knit West Texas town are left with more questions than answers. As the investigation moves forward under the watch of the Texas Rangers, many are holding on to memories of friends and loved ones who will be dearly missed.
