Midland homicide

A 28-year-old Midland man is dead after someone shot him in the abdomen at 9:27 p.m. Wednesday on the front porch of his parents’ house at 3605 Thomason St. in Midland, Midland police said.

Sgt. David Garcia said Weldon Maurice Cooks was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital for surgery where he died a little after 8 a.m. Thursday in the critical care unit.

Justice of the Peace Joe Matlock ordered an autopsy and the body was on its way to Tarrant County for an autopsy, Garcia said.

Garcia said witnesses had provided conflicting stories because some witnesses had said Cooks’ father and brother were outside at the time of the shooting, while others said the two had left by then. Garcia also said some witnesses had reported certain vehicles being in the area at the time, but police didn’t know if it was a drive-by or if someone had gotten out of a vehicle to do the shooting.

Garcia said police had to rely on gathering physical evidence because the family was being uncooperative.

“It’s kind of a rare deal to face so many obstacles,” Garcia said. “Right now there’s more questions than answers.”