Multiple people have been shot and some killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Officials said that as of 2 p.m. local time there was no longer an active threat. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Fox News that a 21-year-old man is in custody. Police have not confirmed the number of fatalities, however there are reports that as many as 20 people could be dead. A spokesman for the El Paso Fire Department said 18 people have been transported to local hospitals.
President Trump says reports out of El Paso are bad and that many people have been killed. He tweeted that he is working with state and local authorities. Trump said that he spoke with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and pledged the total support of the federal government.
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rouke is headed back to West Texas following the shootings. The El Paso ex-congressman told reporters in Las Vegas he's confident the city will bounce back. O'Rourke also says he is very thankful for the response by police after at least one person started shooting in the Walmart.
Texas Representative Veronica Escobar is pleading with lawmakers to act on gun control legislation, after today's mass shooting in El Paso. She told CNN that families are weeping after two dozen people were shot and at least one was killed. Escobar sent a message to her colleagues in Congress, imploring them to come together, to once and for all address the horrible gun violence epidemic that plagues our nation.
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