Grand Jury Indicts Omar Soto-Chavira on Capital Murder

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A Levelland man was indicted on Wednesday, September 15th, by a Hockley County grand jury on a capital murder charge and an attempted capital murder charge after a deadly standoff with authorities in Levelland on July 15th.

Twenty-two-year-old Omar Soto-Chavira is accused of shooting and killing Lubbock County Sheriff's Office sergeant Josh Bartlett and severely wounding Levelland Police officer sergeant Shawn Wilson, who's been in intensive recovery since the incident.

EverythingLubbock reports the indictment is the first step in the legal process initiated by multiple law enforcement agencies. The lead prosecutor in the case, Hockley County District Attorney Angela Overman, said she's seeking the death penalty if Soto-Chavira is convicted.

District Attorney Overman said she will pursue the capital murder charge first, and intends to bring additional indictments against Soto-Chavira.

Soto-Chavira remains booked in the Hockley County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Even before the July 15th incident, Soto-Chivara was arrested on June 25th on a charge of Assault Causes Bodily Injury Family Violence. He was released four days later after posting a $2,500 bond.

Then, later that day on June 29th, Soto-Chivara was arrested again, booked this time on five charges: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Continuous Violence Against The Family, Resisting Arrest- Search or Transport, Assault Causes Bodily Injury Family Violence, and Assault Against Family or House Member Impeding Breath or Circulation.

For the five charges Soto-Chivara was arrested for on June 29th, he posted a total bond of $66,000 on July 11th.