El Paso Shooting: Massacre At A Walmart In Texas Leaves 20 Dead
The mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas that left 20 dead and 26 injured has been labeled as the deadliest shooting in the United States this year.
The shooter has been identified as 21 year old, Patrick Crusius, of Allen, Texas.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive of the shooting but minutes before the killing, a hate-filled, anti-immigrant manifesto appeared online.
It is alleged that the shooter posted this and in it, it indicates that the shooting is a potential hate crime.
CBS Reports:
Texas Governor confirmed multiple people are dead in a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
“On a day that would have been a normal day for someone to leisurely go shopping turned into one of the most deadly days in the history of Texas. Lives were taken that should still be with us today.”
Gov. Greg Abbott said 20 people were killed and at least 26 were injured in the mass shooting.
Around 10:45 a.m. Saturday police were responding to an active shooter.
Authorities said the Walmart at 7101 Gateway Blvd West is where a gunman opened fire was packed with back-to-school shoppers.
Sgt. Robert Gomez said at a news conference that anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 shoppers and about 100 employees were at the Walmart when the attack happened.
Gomez says most of the victims appear to have been at the Walmart, though he also says police had “secured” the mall. He says a man in his 20s was taken into custody.
KFOX14 obtained footage of the gunman being arrested at the intersection of Sunmount Drive and Viscount Boulevard.
Police Chief Gren Allen said the 21-year-old gunman is from Allen, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas.
His identity was not revealed at the news conference, but a law enforcement disclosed to the Associated Press the suspect’s identity as Patrick Crusius, 21.
Allen said they are looking into charges of capital murder. “We are taking this down the road as simply a murder investigation with numerous casualties,” said Allen.
The state of Texas will be the lead of prosecuting agency, he added.
Allen said the FBI is investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime as among the possible motive.
He added that authorities are looking into an online writing that indicated a potential connection to a hate crime to determine if it belonged to the suspected gunman.
“This person did not come from El Paso. It is not what we are about. We are a special community, and this would have not happened from an El Pasoan, I can assure,” said Mayor Dee Margo.
Walmart remains closed to the public as investigators conduct their investigation. Police are advising everyone to avoid this area as the investigation is ongoing.
“The scene is a horrific one. Unfortunately because the nature of the situation,” said Allen.
FBI special agent in charge Emmerson Buie said the FBI and other state law enforcement agencies are offering support into the investigation
Police officials said there are no threats to other El Paso locations or venues in the city.
Authorities initially said a second person was taken into custody, but later said they believe only one person was responsible.
The victims included at least three Mexican citizens, according to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who announced the figure in a video tweet.
“I regret the events in El Paso, Texas, neighboring town and brother of Ciudad Juarez and our nation,” he said. “I send my condolences to the families of the victims, both American and Mexican.”L
Let us please keep all the families involved in this shooting in our prayers as they go through this difficult time. This is such a horrible crime and for the suspect to be able to take the lives of so many innocent individuals is devastating. A Go Fund Me has been created to start gathering money to help the victims families during this time. We will keep you all updated on the story as it continues to develop.
And now you’re officially in the KNOW!
