Rhino Simboli dies in fatal Lubbock shooting
Fatal Lubbock shooting death of Rhino Simboli
A man previously charged with attempted murder in Holly Hill, Florida, was killed during a police encounter at Texas Tech University. Rhino Simboli, aged 63, was involved in a shootout with law enforcement on the university’s campus, resulting in his death and injuries to two officers.
Law enforcement personnel were conducting a routine patrol near Jones AT&T Stadium around 12:45 a.m. on June 24th when they encountered a vehicle they deemed suspicious. Upon approaching the vehicle, Simboli discharged a firearm at the officers. The responding officers returned fire, leading to Simboli’s death.
The officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local medical facility. One officer was subsequently released from the hospital.
Simboli had connections to Daytona Beach, Florida. Six years prior, in August 2019, he was arrested in Holly Hill for an incident involving a home invasion. During that event, Simboli allegedly brandished a weapon and fired shots after forcibly entering a residence and confronting its occupant. No charges of attempted murder were filed against Simboli in that incident, though he received a plea agreement placing him under supervision for 36 months.
Simboli’s criminal history included a supervision period culminating in October 2023. As part of his previous case, he underwent mandatory psychiatric evaluation and treatment, was barred from possessing firearms, and was prohibited from living near the Holly Hill residence involved in the incident or within proximity of his former workplace.
He resided on Catherine Avenue in Daytona Beach at the time of the Texas Tech incident. The details surrounding his motive for the confrontation with the law enforcement officers remain unclear.
