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Shooter targets people at shopping centers in West Texas

What we're covering here

  • What's happening: A shooter targeted shoppers and vehicles at shopping centers in the areas of Odessa and Midland, Texas.
  • Suspect: A suspect described as a white male in his 30's was shot and killed in Odessa, according to a Facebook post by the Midland Police Department.
  • Victims: At least 5 dead and 21 injured, according to authorities.

12:29 a.m. ET, September 1, 2019

Presidential candidates react to the West Texas shooting

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke condemned the West Texas shooting via a statement on Twitter Saturday:

Democratic candidate Julián Castro also released a series of tweets saying "We have to be more honest with ourselves. This is going to happen again. And again."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Former vice president Joe Biden said "we must end this epidemic."

Sen. Kamala Harris said in a series of tweets she's "sick of this" and that "Our children deserve a future without multiple mass shootings in one month."

Sen. Cory Booker said he'd take "executive action to reduce gun violence" beginning his first day in the White House.

Sen. Michael Bennet tweeted "West Texas has had enough heartbreak."

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted the cyle of mass shootings and waiting on the news cycle must end.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said the shooting in Alabama that left 10 injured and the West Texas shooting were "not normal."

Candidate John Delaney tweeted "people deserve to be safe driving down the highway, going to church, going to school, everywhere."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the playbook of broken promises and meetings needs to end.

Candidates Pete Buttigieg, Wayne Messam, Tim Ryan, Joe Sestak, Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang also released statements on Twitter.

12:30 a.m. ET, September 1, 2019

Texas school district says a student was killed

The Ector County Independent School District tweeted Saturday that one of its students was killed in Saturday's shooting. The school district is based in Odessa, Texas

"ECISD counselors as well as counselors from the region are preparing to help our staff, our students," the district tweeted.

11:22 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

A 17-month-old girl was among those injured in the West Texas shooting

A 17-month-old girl was injured in the West Texas shooting Saturday, according to University Medical Center spokesman Eric Finley. UMC is in Lubbock, Texas.

The toddler is in satisfactory condition, Finley said.

Finley declined to comment on the nature of the girl's injuries.

11:10 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

Investigators believe they have positively identified the suspect in the West Texas shooting

Authorities believe they have positively identified the person responsible for today’s shootings in West Texas, a law enforcement official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN.

Local authorities are currently seeking court authorization to search an address associated with the identified shooter.

11:06 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

FBI is sending forensic examiners and other resources to help with the investigation

FBI resources from the bureau’s offices in Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso are en route to the Midland area to assist with the investigation of Saturday's mass shooting, a law enforcement source told CNN.

The resources include forensic examiners who will assist local investigators in processing multiple crime scenes associated with the shooting, the official said.

10:15 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: 'How many more families will lose loved ones?'

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement on the West Texas shooting Saturday:

How many more families will lose loved ones, how many more communities will be torn apart? How many more tragedies will it take before "leaders" act?
The bloodshed must end now.
 DO SOMETHING.

 

10:14 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

DPS says shooter was being stopped for a 'traffic violation'

Department of Public Safety troopers were trying to stop the shooting suspect's vehicle because of a "traffic violation," DPS Lt. Elizabeth Carter told CNN.

It's not clear what the traffic violation was, Carter said.

She said that prior to coming to a complete stop, the suspect fired several shots at the DPS patrol unit, injuring one of the officers.

The trooper is in serious but stable condition, Carter said.

The suspect also shot a Midland police officer and an Odessa police officer, both of whom are in stable condition.

9:42 p.m. ET, August 31, 2019

Shooter was armed with a rifle, DPS says

The suspect in Saturday's West Texas shooting was armed with a rifle, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Elizabeth Carter. 

According to Carter, the DPS trooper who was shot is in serious but stable condition. The Midland and Odessa police officers who were shot are also in stable condition at the hospital.

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