When the first shots rang out, the Walmart store was set to be ‘at capacity’ with more than 3,000 shoppers inside hoping to get ahead of the busy back-to-school season.
At least three other businesses in the area were placed on lock down as a result of the shooting.
Witness Miguel Rodriguez said the gunman, ‘started shooting everyone, aisle by aisle, with rage.’
Witnesses told CBS 4 News they believe the suspect only stopped shooting because he ran out of ammunition.
Video posted on Twitter showed customers at one department store being evacuated with their hands up.
‘Hands in the air!’ an officer can be heard shouting in the footage.
Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. congressman who represented El Paso, tweeted: ‘Truly heartbreaking. Stay safe, El Paso.
‘Please follow all directions of emergency personnel as we continue to get more updates.’
After his tweet, O’Rourke said he was distraught by the news of the mass-shooting in his hometown.
An emotional O’Rourke told reporters on Saturday in Las Vegas that he had spoken by phone to El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, the city’s sheriff and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar.Save 50% on select product(s) with promo code 50PLEAHQ on Amazon.com

He says they were still learning details about the attack at or near the Cielo Vista Mall, in which police say multiple people were killed and a suspect was taken into custody.

O’Rourke said he planned to return home immediately to be with his family.
He asked ‘for everyone’s strength for El Paso right now. Everyone’s resolve to make sure that this does not continue to happen in this country.’
O’Rourke’s successor, House Rep. Veronica Escobar, tweeted: ‘Utterly heartbroken by the developing news in El Paso.
‘Monitoring the situation and in communication with our law enforcement. Please stay safe.’
Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemned the shooting as ‘a heinous and senseless act of violence.’
He also thanked first responders for helping to minimize civilian casualties by acting swiftly, courageously and effectively.

When the first shots rang out, the Walmart store was set to be ‘at capacity’ with more than 3,000 shoppers inside hoping to get ahead of the busy back-to-school season.

A Walmart employee told KTSM that she was working by the self-checkout when the first gunshots rang out.
The employee, named Leslie, said she initially thought the loud bang was caused by boxes being dropped.
‘I thought it was just like loud boxes being dropped or something, until they got closer and closer,’ she said. ‘That’s when I looked at my co-worker, and we looked at each other like shocked and scared.’
‘I got all the people that I could, I even found a little girl that was missing from her parents, and I got her, too. I tried to get as many people as I could out,’ she said.
Multiple people killed in mass shooting in El Paso Walmart

Police later said that following the arrest of Crusius, there was no further threat.
Alice Baland, who lives four houses down from the Crusius’ last registered address, said a retired couple lives at the home. She described them as sweet people who regularly attend church.


On his LinkedIn page in 2015, Crusius wrote that he was not motivated to do anything other than ‘enough to get by’. The page was taken down from the website shortly after Crusius was tentatively associated with the shooting.
His profile states that he attended Plano High School. Another source said he may have also attended and later graduated from Liberty High School in Frisco.
‘I’m not really motivated to do anything more than what’s necessary to get by,’ he wrote in the About section of his LinkedIn profile. ‘Working in general sucks, but I guess a career in Software Development suits me well. I spend about 8 hours every day on the computer so that counts as technology experience I guess. Pretty much gonna see what technology careers present themselves; go with the wind.’
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Referencing his time at high school, Crusius said that he didn’t participate in extracurricular activities citing a ‘lack of freedom.’

Thygesen says the shooting occurred on Walmart’s property and in the Walmart parking lot.
The mall was put on lockdown as a result of the shooting, Thygesen said, but there is said to be no ongoing threat to the public at this time.
Walmart issued a statement on its Twitter account which read: ‘We’re in shock over the tragic events at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, where store 2201 & club 6502 are located.
‘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.’