“It is a murder investigation” right now, said authorities at a press conference early on Saturday evening about a shooting by “a man with a rifle” that occurred in and around a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday morning.
Gov. Greg Abbott said 20 people are dead and many more are injured and are being treated right now.
“Texas grieves for the people of El Paso today,” he said at the start of his remarks to the media.
‘Multiple Deaths’ Reported in Shooting at Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday
Authorities have a 21-year-old white male in police custody, they said.
“He surrendered to the approaching officers,” said Greg Allen, police chief of El Paso, Texas, at the same press conference.
They have not yet released his name or other details, except to say he is an outsider to the El Paso area and is from Allen, Texas — some 650 miles away from El Paso.
Police said they “have a manifesto” in their possession from the shooter at this time, said Allen, but he declined to give details about it.
There are apparently some “anti-immigrant” sentiments in that manifesto, according to a Fox New report, as early details continue to emerge.
Just one week ago, a shooting occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California.
The FBI is on the scene in El Paso.
See more information, details and sentiments about this tragedy in the tweets below.
Now in the beautiful city of El Paso.
Texans grieve today for the people of this wonderful place.
We unite in support of all the victims.
We thank First Responders for their swift action.
We ask God to bind up the wounds of all who’ve been harmed. pic.twitter.com/2l8jDPHbe1
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 3, 2019
My heart is with everyone in El Paso struck by this unspeakable evil. Heidi & I are praying for the victims & their families & are grateful for the first responders, local authorities & law enforcement working tirelessly to bring the perpetrator of this depraved act to justice.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) August 3, 2019
Senseless killing, pure evil came to the beautiful city of El Paso today. Prayers for all the victims and their families. Thanks to law enforcement and first responders for their heroic efforts.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) August 3, 2019
LATEST: 20 people were killed and dozens more injured on Saturday morning in a massacre at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart that was packed with back-to-school shoppers, making it one of the ten deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, officials said. https://t.co/V40LtPruBr
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 4, 2019
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