A 15-year-old schoolgirl was among seven killed when a gunman randomly opened fire from a stolen postal van in Texas.
Tragic Leila Hernandez has been branded "beautiful inside and out" by friends following yesterday's atrocity.
A further 21 people were injured in the mass shooting.
The killer - believed to be a white male in his 30s - was shot dead by police in a cinema car park after the latest mass slaughter to hit the US.
The cities of Midland and Odessa were placed on lockdown after the killer went on the rampage with a rifle, taking aim from a hijacked US Postal Service van.
Three police officers are among those who were shot, as well as motorists and mid-afternoon shoppers.
The suspect is believed to have shot a police officer who stopped his vehicle at 2.30pm before going on a shooting spree that spread terror through shopping centres and cinemas on the busy Labor Day holiday weekend.
The suspect was known to police and has been positively identified, according to reports.
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Victims were reported in the neighbouring cities of Midland and Odessa, suggesting the gunman drove the 20-mile distance from one to the other.
Cinema-goers were seen running for their lives before the killer was shot dead outside the Cinergy complex in Odessa.
Police initially said there may have been two shooters, but authorities now believe there was just one gunman.
However, video circulating online shows another suspect being detained at gunpoint in the same area and thrown into a police car. It is not yet known who this person is.
In a tribute to Leilah, friend Mayrah Y Manuel Cortinas wrote: "We are grateful to have been a part of her life, and it hurts our hearts greatly that she is no longer with us on earth."
The tribute continued: "Such a sweet girl, with such a big heart.
"Beautiful inside and out."
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Midland Police wrote on Facebook: "The active shooter was shot and killed at the Cinergy (cinema) in Odessa.
"There is no active shooter at this time. All agencies are investigating reports of possible suspects."
Midland Mayor Jerry Morales told CNN he did not know anything about the suspect or what his motive was.
He confirmed one police officer was shot and was in surgery with non life-threatening injuries.
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"At this time there are multiple gunshot victims. The suspect just hijacked a US Mail carrier truck," the police department said.
Officers originally said there may have been two shooters: "A subject, possibly 2, driving in Odessa and randomly shooting at people.
"One suspect is believed to be at the Cinergy (cinema) in Midland and the other is believed to be Loop 250 in Midland.
"The two vehicles in question are (a) gold/white small Toyota truck and a USPS Postal Van. Please stay away from these areas and stay indoors."
President Donald Trump posted on Twitter: " Just briefed by Attorney General Barr about the shootings in Texas. FBI and Law Enforcement is fully engaged. More to follow."
Chilling pictures posted on social media show bullet holes in a car windscreen.
In a Facebook Live video, one motorist, Santos Uvalle, warned: "It seems as though they're shooting at the truck drivers.
"There's several 18 wheelers at the side of the road, there's people laid out outside their trucks, there's blood on the doors."
He described it as "chaos" and said "there's a lot of hurt people out there".
"It is not safe, I don't know what's going on."
A spokesman for the Medical Center Hospital in Odessa said it took in 14 victims, but that it was too soon to give details.
"Grab onto your loved ones, pray for this town, stop and give your prayers for the victims," the hospital's director, Russell Tippin, told reporters.
At one point armed police ran through the Music City Mall in Odessa, forcing anchors for television station CBS 7, located inside, to duck off-screen as the building went into lockdown.
The nearby University of Texas Permian Basin campus was placed on lockdown.
The Texas Department of Public Safety urged residents to avoid major roads in the area, including Interstate 20.
State Governor Greg Abbott will be travelling to Odessa tomorrow morning following the incident.
He said: "The First Lady and I are heartbroken over this senseless and cowardly attack, and we offer our unwavering support to the victims, their families, and all the people of Midland and Odessa."
He continued: "The state of Texas and the Department of Public Safety are working closely with local law enforcement to provide resources as needed and deliver justice for this heinous attack.
"I thank the first responders who have acted swiftly and admirably under pressure, and I want to remind all Texans that we will not allow the Lone Star State to be overrun by hatred and violence.
"We will unite, as Texans always do, to respond to this tragedy."
The shooting comes after 22 people were killed at a Walmart store about 255 miles west of Midland in city of El Paso, Texas on August 2.