Stefani Montiel was the scheduled headliner for Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Fair in Midland, Texas, on Saturday. | File photo

MIDLAND, TX — What was meant to be a joyful evening of Tejano music, family fun, and community celebration took a frightening turn Saturday night when a shooting incident forced the cancellation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Fair.

The three-day event, held annually at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Midland, was in full swing Saturday evening with a packed lineup of Tejano performers, including Texas Latino, Joe Posada, David Farias Y La Tropa F, and headliner Stefani Montiel. The fair, which began Friday, was scheduled to run through Sunday and serves as a fundraiser for the church’s new Holy Family Education Center.

Around 8:00 p.m., chaos erupted on the church grounds as shots were reportedly fired. Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic, with families fleeing the area and performers being quickly escorted off stage. The Midland Police Department responded swiftly, securing the scene and launching an active investigation. Although injuries among attendees have been reported, details about the number and severity remain unconfirmed.

Organizers immediately shut down the event for the night. Later in the evening, a statement was released from the church: “Due to unforeseen circumstances Fr. David and the OLG Fair Committee, the OLG Family Fair has been cancelled tomorrow.”

Tejano star Stefani Montiel took to social media from inside her RV at the fairgrounds to reassure fans and share what little she knew about the situation.

“We’re here for our show tonight and apparently there’s some stuff going on… We just saw a lot of people running,” Montiel said in a video message. “The band that was on stage, which is Joe Posada, they rushed him off… We’re not exactly sure what happened, but our thoughts and prayers are with everyone.”

Montiel added that she and her team were safe but remained concerned about the crowd and the local community: “We just hope that everyone’s okay… It does not look like we’re going to be finishing out the night here.”

Midland Police Provide Update on Shooting at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Fair

The Midland Police Department (MPD) has released new information regarding the heavy police presence at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Fair on Saturday night.

According to MPD, officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired in the 1400 block of Garden Lane at approximately 8:07 p.m. Upon investigation, authorities determined that during a physical altercation involving multiple individuals, at least one shot was fired.

One person was treated at Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH), though their current condition remains unknown. MPD also confirmed that no shots were fired by any responding officers.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Fair is a cherished tradition for Midland’s Latino community, bringing together food vendors, games, and musical performances in celebration of faith and culture. The shooting has cast a somber shadow over what should have been a weekend of unity and joy.

Local authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they continue to investigate the incident.

Tejano Nation will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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