many dead
many dead

By Lucia I. Suarez Sang, Bradford Betz | Fox News

A gunman opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas Saturday morning, causing “multiple fatalities,” city police and officials said.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Fox News that there were between 15 and 20 “casualties” of the shooting, but did not give a number of fatalities. Ryan Mielke, a spokesman for University Medical Center of El Paso, told Fox News that 13 patients — 1 of whom died at the hospital — were being treated at the facility’s Level 1 trauma center. Mielke told the Associated Press that says two children, ages 2 and 9, were stabilized at the medical center before being transferred to the neighboring El Paso Children’s Hospital.

Del Sol Medical Center told Fox News it has received 11 patients, 9 of whom were critical but stable condition and 2 who were in stable condition. The patients’ ages ranged from 35 to 82, the hospital said. El Paso police tweeted that blood donations were “needed urgently” to aid the injured.

“Terrible shootings in El Paso, Texas,” President Trump tweeted. “Reports are very bad, many killed. Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement.”

Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump

Terrible shootings in El Paso, Texas. Reports are very bad, many killed. Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement. Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all!33.7K4:10 PM – Aug 3, 2019

“Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all!” Trump added. White House Deputy Press Secretary Steven Groves said earlier that Trump had been briefed on the shooting “and we continue to monitor the situation.” Groves added that Trump had spoken to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as well as Attorney General Willian Barr.

Police responded to reports of an active shooting in the area of the Cielo Vista Mall shortly before 11 a.m. and asked people to stay clear of the active scene. El Paso Police Sgt. Enrique Carrillo told reporters shortly before 1 p.m. that one person was in custody and there was no longer an “imminent threat” to the area.

Patrick told Fox News that the suspect was a 21-year-old man. A short time later, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo tweeted that police had confirmed “several fatalities and multiple suspects in custody.” The discrepancy could not be immediately reconciled.

Local media reported that multiple SWAT teams, FBI and ATF were on the scene. At least three local businesses in the area were on lockdown. The mall complex is near Interstate 10 and on El Paso’s east side.

Vanessa Saenz, a witness, told Fox News that she heard several “pops” near the area and saw a man in a black shirt and cargo pants with a weapon shooting outside the building before entering the Walmart.

“He was just pointing at people and just shooting,” she added. Another witness told Fox News that his mother died at the scene.

A witness told CBS News that he was about to enter the Walmart when he heard at least 10 gunshots and saw an elderly lady fall to the ground. He said he was not sure if she was shot.

mark lambie✔@LambieMark

Fire medical with at Walmart active shooter event at Cielo Vista Mall. Police still inside.2461:49 PM – Aug 3, 2019

Videos showed some injured people being brought to a nearby Sam’s Club.

Abbott said the shooting was “a heinous and senseless act of violence.”

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific shooting and to the entire community in this time of loss,” he said.

Gov. Greg Abbott✔@GovAbbott

Statement on shooting in El Paso:

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, who used to represent El Paso in the House of Representatives, tweeted that the shooting was truly heartbreaking.”

O’Rourke appeared shaken as he appeared at a candidate forum in Las Vegas on Saturday shortly after news of the shooting was reported. He said he had called his wife before taking the stage and said the shooting shatters “any illusion that we have that progress is inevitable” on tackling gun violence.

Beto O’Rourke✔@BetoORourke

Truly heartbreaking. Stay safe, El Paso. Please follow all directions of emergency personnel as we continue to get more updates. https://twitter.com/EPPOLICE/status/1157699993165357059 …EL PASO POLICE DEPT@EPPOLICEActive Shooting Stay away from Cielo Vista Mall Area. Scene is Still Active.

“We have to find some reason for optimism and hope or else we consign ourselves to a future where nearly 40,000 people are year will lose their lives to gun violence and I cannot accept that,” O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke’s campaign later said the candidate had canceled planned campaign events in Nevada and California. O’Rourke told reporters he was going back to El Paso to “be with my family and to be with my hometown.”

MISSISSIPPI WALMART SHOOTING VICTIMS IDENTIFIED; SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER

The Democrat said he’d heard early reports that the shooter might have had a military-style weapon, saying we need to “keep that s–t on the battlefield and do not bring it into our communities.”

Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar tweeted that she is “utterly heartbroken” by the news of the shooting in El Paso and said she is monitoring the situation.

“Please stay safe,” she added.

Rep. Veronica Escobar✔@RepEscobar

Utterly heartbroken by the developing news in El Paso. Monitoring the situation and in communication with our law enforcement. Please stay safe.8971:55 PM – Aug 3, 2019

“Stay safe, El Paso. Please follow all directions of emergency personnel as we continue to get more updates,” he tweeted.

Pete Buttigieg✔@PeteButtigieg

My grandmother used to take me to Cielo Vista Mall. Now it’s one more mass shooting scene. How many more must grieve before we act? #ElPaso14.2K3:20 PM – Aug 3, 2019

South Bend, Ind., Mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg also weighed, tweeting: “My grandmother used to take me to Cielo Vista Mall. Now it’s one more mass shooting scene. How many more must grieve before we act? #ElPaso”.

Saturday’s shooting comes just days after a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in Northern Mississippi, leaving two dead and a police officer injured. In response to the latest shooting, Walmart tweeted: “We’re in shock over the tragic events at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso … We’re praying for the victims, the community & our associates, as well as the first responders. We’re working closely with law enforcement & will update as appropriate.

And last week, a gunman killed three people – including a 6-year-old boy – before turning the gun on himself at a Northern California food festival.

El Paso, which has about 680,000 residents, is in West Texas sits across the border from Juarez, Mexico.

Fox News’  Garrett Tenney and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Lucia I. Suarez Sang is a Reporter & Editor for FoxNews.com.

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