19 people are confirmed dead and at least 23 injured in the worst mass shooting in El Paso, Texas history. Police say a lone gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire on shoppers as he walked into a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall.
The shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m. local time. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Police are trying to determine if more than one suspect is involved. The suspect is described as a 21-year-old white male from Dallas, TX.
El Paso native Beto O’Rourke spoke about the shooting at a press conference.
“We know that there is a lot of injury, a lot of suffering. I am incredibly saddened and it is hard to think about this,” he said before laughing.
“I’ll tell you, El Paso is the strongest place in the world. The community is going to stay together,” O’Rourke said. “I ask for everyone’s strength. Everyone’s resolved to make sure this doesn’t continue to happen in this country.”
Outraged social media users slammed the Democratic presidential candidate for laughing while victims are fighting for their lives in local hospitals.
“What a low life p.o.s. using a situation like this for his political agenda,” one user wrote.
O’Rourke was born in El Paso and served on the City Council and is a former Congressman.