Gunman kills 20 at Texas Walmart store in US, police say ‘has nexus of a hate crime’

A gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 20 people in the southern border town of El Paso in Texas when he opened fire on shoppers at a packed Walmart store in the latest mass shooting in the United States.

Police received the first call at 10:39 a.m. local time, Chief Greg Allen told reporters during the news conference. He went on to describe the crime scene as “horrific.”

“Twenty innocent people from El Paso have lost their lives,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott told a press conference.

“We as a state unite in support of these victims and their family members... We pray that God can be with those who have been harmed in any way and bind up their wounds.”

Most of the victims were shot at a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall. Local news reports said Saturday was a “tax-free shopping day,” drawing thousands of shoppers to the mall looking for back-to-school deals.

Police chief Greg Allen confirmed that in addition to the 20 confirmed fatalities, there were 26 wounded.

Various news reports said the ages of victims being treated at hospitals ranged from two to 82 years.

Police said that Walmart was “at capacity” at the time of the shooting, with 1,000-3,000 customers inside.

It was the second fatal shooting in less than a week at a Walmart store in the US and comes after a mass shooting in California last weekend.

Patrick Crusius of the Dallas area was taken into custody. Police described him as a 21-year-old white male. Chief Allen said the shooting had “the nexus of a hate crime.” He noted investigators had obtained a manifesto and were trying to confirm that it was “from the individual that we arrested.”

Witnesses said the gunman appeared to be shooting at random when he opened fire around 10:30 am, said a AFP report.

It has been a particularly bad week for gun violence in the United States. Two people died and a police officer was wounded Tuesday at a Walmart in Mississippi.

Last Sunday a 19-year-old gunman opened fire at a food festival in northern California, killing three, including two children.

Beto O’Rourke, a former US congressman for El Paso who is now running for president, cut off his campaigning in the wake of the shooting.