El Paso: Texas Shooting That Killed 20 And Injured Dozens Treated As Domestic Terrorism

4 August 2019, 07:25 | Updated: 4 August 2019, 17:41

20 people were killed and more than two dozen injured in a shooting in a busy shopping centre in the Texas border town of El Paso.

A 21-year-old man, Patrick Crusius, was taken into custody as US Attorney John Bash says the incident is being treated as a domestic terrorism case.

Officers say at least 26 people were injured in the attack, with most of the victims believed to have been shot at a Walmart store near the Cielo Vista Mall.

The store was filled with as many as 3,000 people during what is a busy back-to-school shopping season.

One of the victims, a 25-year-old mother, died after being shot trying to shield her baby son.

Her sister Leta Jamrowski said her two-month-old nephew was being treated for broken bones believed to be as a result of his mother falling on him as she was shot.

"From the baby's injuries, they said that more than likely my sister was trying to shield him," she said.

"So when she got show she was holding him and she fell on him, so he pretty much lived because she gave her life."

Three Mexicans are also believed to be amongst those killed in the attack.

District Attorney Jaime Esparza said "it is a very difficult time for our community" and that the shooter could face the death penalty.

"I can tell you from the outset that the state charge is capital murder and so he is eligible for the death penalty," he said.

"We will seek the death penalty."

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said police were investigating whether a document understood to be an 'anti-immigration manifesto' posted online shortly before the shooting was written by the suspect.

Police Chief Greg Allen described the scene as "a horrific one", adding that many of the wounded had life-threatening injuries.

Ivan Pierre Aguire, a reporter in El Paso, told Andrew Castle that residents were being turned away from giving blood because so many wanted to help.

"They're asking people to make appointments now because people, El Paso's like that, lots of people went down to give blood," he said.

"People are dropping off water and ice and so many people were giving blood that people had to be turned away.

"There is so many people trying to give blood and trying to help out."

US President Donald Trump tweeted his "heartfelt thoughts and prayers" to the "great people of Texas" after the shooting.

He added that the incident was "not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice".

"There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people," he said.

In a separate incident in Ohio, nine people have been killed and 16 others injured in a shooting in Dayton. The shooter was shot dead by police officers.