El Paso killings – latest: Second suspect in custody after one dead and three wounded in shooting

At least one person is dead and three are injured after a shooting at a mall in El Paso, Texas.

Police were called after 5pm to reports of a shooting at the food court and Dillard’s Department Store at the Cielo Vista Mall.

Two suspects, males, have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting, officers said.

The Cielo Vista Mall is located in West El Paso just a half mile away from the site of a racially-motivated mass shooting in 2019 that killed 23 people and left 22 more injured.

Interim police chief Peter Pacillas said that Mall was still considered a crime scene, and that it would remain locked down until authorities had completed their investigation.

However, he stressed that the danger had passed.

"There is no more danger. I want to repeat that: There is no more danger to the public," Mr Pacillas said.

Two of the injured remained in the hospital in critical condition.

“Thank you to all law enforcement and first responders who quickly went into action to protect their fellow Texans,” Texas governor Greg Abbott wrote on Twitter.

Key Points

• One dead and three wounded in shooting in El Paso

• Two suspects taken into custody

• Victims hospitalised in critical condition

Gunman taken down by off-duty officer

11:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The gunman, who opened fire at the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso killing one person, was taken down by an off-duty police officer.

The officer was working security at a store in the mall and did not fire his weapon, interim police chief Peter Pacillas said.

Beto O’Rourke vows action over mass shooting

10:40 , Rachel Sharp

Beto O’Rourke has vowed to take action over the latest mass shooting in Texas.

The Democrat, who lost to Republican incumbent Governor Greg Abbott in the November midterms, tweeted on Wednesday as news broke about the shooting at the Cielo Vista Mall.

“This shooting at Cielo Vista is painful for El Paso, especially the families of those killed at the nearby Walmart in 2019. I dont know the details yet,” he said.

“But what I do know is that I love this town and I will do everything I can to stop this from happening again.”

FBI launches website for tips

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

The FBI has launched a website for members of the public to send in tips, videos and photos about the mass shooting.

“On February 15, 2023, a shooting occurred in the food court at the Cielo Vista Mall, 8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, Texas. If you have images or video, please submit below,” the website reads.

Follow this link to submit tips

Family reception centre set up at local high school

10:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Law enforcement in El Paso have set up a reception centre for families at a local high school and are urging family members to go there if they cannot make contact with a loved one.

The reception centre is located in the main gymnasium at Burges High School, which is less than a mile away from the Cielo Vista Mall where the shooting took place.

Mall workers who survived Walmart massacre describe hiding from latest El Paso mass shooting

09:34 , Rachel Sharp

Shopping mall workers who survived the 2019 Walmart massacre have described their horror at finding themselves in the midst of the latest mass shooting to rock El Paso, Texas.

One victim was killed and three others hospitalised when gunfire erupted inside the Cielo Vista Mall on Wednesday. Two suspects have now been taken into custody with the motive still unknown.

The Cielo Vista Mall is directly adjacent to the Walmart store where a lone gunman murdered 23 people in a racist attack in August 2019.

Several of the same workers who survived that day three years ago were at the mall on Wednesday.

Robert Gonzalez told CNN that Wednesday’s shooting at the Cielo Vista Mall brought back “bad memories” of the Walmart mass shooting.

“I was working [at the mall] the last time this happened with the Walmart shooting so it just brought back bad memories,” said Mr Gonzalez.

He said that he “saw people running to the exit” of the mall on Wednesday and he fled to his car.

Another mall worker Brandon Chavez, 29, told the outlet that he has also now lived through the two mass shootings in the half-mile radius.

He was working in the Buckle clothing store located across from the food court when Wednesday’s shooting unfolded, he said.

Mr Chavez said that employees and customers banded together to barricade themselves inside the store and then hide in the stock room until it was safe to come out.

It was a stark reminder of 2019 when he said he was also forced to shelter in the store.

Police called after 5pm to reports of shooting at Cielo Vista Mall

09:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

El Paso shooting: One dead and three injured

08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

One person is dead and at least three more are injured following a shooting at a shopping mall in El Paso on Wednesday evening.

The Cielo Vista Mall is located in West El Paso just a half mile away from the site of a racially-motivated mass shooting in 2019 that killed 23 people and left 22 more injured.

Abe Asher has more.

One dead and three injured in El Paso mall shooting

Mayor reassures community

06:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

El Paso mayor Oscar Leeser in a statement said there is no “current threat to our community”.

“As our community faced a shooting threat this evening, our emergency responders, law enforcement officers as well as our agency partners responded immediately to the emergency situation,” he said, according to El Paso Times.

Gunman taken down by off-duty officer

06:14 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The gunman, who opened fire at the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso killing one person, was taken down by an off-duty police officer.

The officer was working security at a store in the mall and did not fire his weapon, interim police chief Peter Pacillas said.

Congresswoman says no community deserves ‘multiple incidents of gun violence’

05:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Member of congress Veronica Escobar in a tweet said no community deserves multiple incidents of gun violence.

“I am staying in close contact with local officials who are dealing with a shooting in the same area where 23 lives were taken by a mass shooting three years ago,” she said in a tweet.

Second suspect taken into custody

04:57 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A second person has been taken into custody following a shooting at a shopping mall in El Paso that left one dead and three others wounded.

Interim police chief Peter Pacillas said that Cielo Vista Mall was still considered a crime scene, and that it would remain locked down until authorities had completed their investigation.

He stressed that the danger had passed.

“There is no more danger. I want to repeat that: There is no more danger to the public,” Mr Pacillas said.

The two people in custody and as well as the victims are males, he added.

Victims in critical condition

04:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Two of the three people wounded in the shooting at a mall in El Paso, Texas, remain critical.

University Medical Center in El Paso said in a statement that two male gunshot victims were being treated there.

The condition of the third victim was not immediately known.

Police looking for a second suspect

04:35 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

El Paso police are looking for another person who could have been involved in the shooting incident, spokesperson Sgt Robert Gomez said without providing further details.

He said a weapon was recovered at the scene.“It’s too early to speculate on motive,” he added.

Mr Gomez said police believe the scene is secure and that officers are sweeping through the whole mall to verify that.

“This is a large scene. It’s going to take some time to clear the mall.”

Survivors of 2019 shooting made to relive trauma

03:51 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Olivia Troye, a national security official, who worked for former vice president Mike Pence, said that her aunt was hiding in the mall during the shooting.

“My aunt is currently in hiding at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, TX, as this active shooter scenario is still unfolding,” she tweeted.

Her aunt was one of the survivors of the 2019 Wal-Mart El Paso shooting, she said, asking: “What is it going to take to enact change.”

In a separate tweet, Ms Troye said her aunt has now been brought out of the mall safely.

Greg Abbott says he offers full support of state of Texas

03:44 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Texas governor Greg Abbott said he has spoken to mayor Oscar Leeser and offered the state’s full support following the shooting at a mall in El Paso.

“Thank you to all law enforcement and first responders who quickly went into action to protect their fellow Texans,” he wrote on Twitter.

Reminders of the 2019 shooting in a scared community

03:24 , Abe Asher

Wednesday’s shooting in El Paso comes as the community is still in the midst of processing and trying to recover from the trauma of the 2019 mass shooting that was one of the deadliest hate crimes in recent US history.

The perpetrator of that crime, Patrick Wood Crusius, plead guilty to 90 federal murder and hate crimes charges on February 8 — just a week before this mass shooting at a site just a half mile away.

Crusius bought the semiautomatic firearm and ammunition he used in the 2019 shooting legally; since then, Texas has further loosened its gun laws even as it and states across the nation have continued to see frequent mass shootings.

Family reception center set up at local high school

03:04 , Abe Asher

Law enforcement in El Paso have set up a reception center for families at a local high school and are urging family members to go there if they cannot make contact with a loved one.

The reception center is located in the main gymnasium at Burges High School, which is less than a mile away from the Cielo Vista Mall where the shooting took place.

Just last year, the high school dedicated a day to teaching its students about the 2019 shooting that claimed 23 lives at a nearby Walmart. KFOX-TV has more on that story.

Data: How many mass shootings have happened this year?

02:35 , Josh Marcus

The latest shooting in El Paso is part of a grim trend.

There have been at least 71 mass shootings in the US this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

Relative describes survivor of 2019 shooting facing new threat

02:19 , Josh Marcus

It feels like deja vu in Texas.

Survivors of the 2019 El Paso shooting are now experiencing another outbreak of gun violence.

“My aunt is currently in hiding at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, TX, as this active shooter scenario is still unfolding,” former White House official Olivia Troye wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “She survived the 2019 Wal-Mart El Paso shooting thanks to someone who pulled her to safety. What is it going to take to enact change?!”

Watch: Police provide update on El Paso shooting

02:08 , Josh Marcus

Watch their full remarks below.

Breaking news: Another shooting in El Paso

02:07 , Josh Marcus

One person is dead and at least four more are injured following a shooting at a shopping mall in El Paso on Wednesday evening.

Police in the West Texas town have taken one person into custody in connection with the shooting, but Sgt Robert Gomez said that law enforcement believe that another person connected with the shooting may still be at large. He did not offer any information about a potential motive.

The Cielo Vista Mall is located in West El Paso just a half mile away from the site of a racially-motivated mass shooting in 2019 that killed 23 people and left 22 more injured.

Abe Asher is following the story.

El Paso shooting: One person dead, at least four more injured