Some difficult news has come from the city of El Paso, Texas, where the latest mass shooting in the United States has tragically claimed the lives of several people.
Texas governor Greg Abbott has confirmed that 20 people have been killed in the incident, and according to other reports it is believed that at least a further 22 people, including children, are being treated at local hospitals for serious and even life-threatening injuries.
The first reports of the shooting emerged at approximately 10:00 local time (16:00 GMT) yesterday (August 3rd 2019) from the Walmart store near the Cielo Vista Mall.
Reports from US media state that a suspect is in custody, identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, and that he is believed to be the sole shooter.
Blink-182 bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus has said on Twitter that the band had been placed on lockdown during the incident, stating that they were en route to the Cielo Vista Mall before they were notified of the events that were at the time ongoing, and then immediately returned to their hotel where they were placed on a secure lockdown.
Here’s what Hoppus had to say about the incident and his perspective of the events as and when they occurred.
we are locked down in our hotel in el paso. over the intercom system they just announced that there are reports of another active shooter directly across the street at a location different from the first shootings.
— mark hoppus.🏳️🌈 (@markhoppus) August 3, 2019
we were leaving breakfast when our security texted that there was an active shooter at the mall we were headed to. saw dozens of police cars on the freeway and surface streets. helicopters. we got back to the hotel and turned on the news to see what was happening. then
— mark hoppus.🏳️🌈 (@markhoppus) August 3, 2019
the intercom said there are reports of another shooting across the street at the bassett place mall. i don’t see or hear police or helicopters so hopefully it’s just an over abundance of caution and someone got the malls confused. so terrible.
— mark hoppus.🏳️🌈 (@markhoppus) August 3, 2019
update: police confirm report of a separate incident at bassett mall is incorrect. we are still in our hotel. federal agent at the door to the building.
— mark hoppus.🏳️🌈 (@markhoppus) August 3, 2019
The local police department have since confirmed via Twitter that there are no further threats in the city related to this incident.
Be advised there are no threats to other locations or venues in the city.
— EL PASO POLICE DEPT (@EPPOLICE) August 3, 2019
We here at DEAD PRESS! offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to those effected by the tragic events that have unfolded in El Paso, Texas.
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