At least 20 people have been shot dead and many others injured in a shooting at a Walmart in the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, APA reports citing CBS.
One suspect has been detained, media reported Saturday, citing local law enforcement. AFP has reported, citing local officials, that at least 3 suspects were apprehended.
Witnesses told CBS News that they heard at least ten gunshots, claiming there were two people with guns at the Walmart. Many people have posted on social media about the massacre.
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At least 10 people are reported to have been killed and 30 injured in a shooting spree at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, APA reports citing Telegraph.
According to initial reports, 18 people were shot. The El Paso mayor’s office confirmed there had been multiple fatalities, but the number was unclear. However the number of reported casualties increased as more details emerged.
El Paso police said there was one person in custody. The city mayor's office said three suspects were being held.
It was initially reported that a man armed with assault rifle began shooting in the parking lot at the Cielo Vista Mall at around 10 am local time, before moving inside. Later reports suggested there was a second shooter, also armed with an assault rifle.
Mobile phone footage showed people running away from the scene. In panic.
Police put out a tweet urging people to stay away from the area. Nearby businesses, including several restaurants, were put on lockdown.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives announced that it has dispatched federal agents to the scene to assist local law enforcement.
Democratic presidential candidate and Texas congressman, Beto O’Rourke, used twitter to appeal to people to avoid the area.
Mr O’Rourke’s successor in Congress, Democratic Representative tweeted he was “utterly heartbroken” by news of the shooting.
Ray Holgin told CBS News that he was about to go into the Walmart when he heard at least 10 gunshots.
The El Paso incident took place within days of two people being shot and killed at a Walmart Branch in Southhaven Mississippi.
US presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg, recalled being taken to the Cielo Vista Mall. "Now it's one more mass shooting scene. How many ore must grieve before we act?".
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A shooting at a Texas shopping mall has ended in "multiple fatalities", local officials say, APA reports citing BBC.
First reports of a shooting emerged at around 11:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
Police warned residents to steer clear of the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, just a few miles from the US-Mexico border.
A police spokesman on the scene confirmed there had been deaths but an exact toll is unclear. Three people are reportedly in custody.
About an hour after their initial warning, El Paso police tweeted they had received multiple reports of multiple shooters, and were searching a "very large area".
Police said they no longer believed there was any immediate threat to the public, but were continuing searches.
Local news outlet the El Paso Times reported that at least 11 people had arrived at the city's University Medical Centre for treatment.
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo told CNN that three suspects were in custody.
"This is a tragedy that we never, ever would have thought would happen in El Paso," he said. "It tears me up."
"There are three suspects in custody. It's still an active scene."
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