20 dead in mass shooting at Walmart in El Paso — suspect in custody

Law enforcement agencies respond to an active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.

Twenty people died and 26 were wounded in a mass shooting at a shopping center in El Paso, law enforcement and Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed in a press conference Saturday evening. The shooting happened at a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, which is on the U.S. southern border. The Walmart was at capacity with up to 3,000 people during the busy back-to-school shopping season, police said. A 21-year-old suspect identified as Patrick Wood Crusius, a resident of the Dallas area, has been taken into custody, law enforcement sources told NBC News. Police said the suspect is a white male. El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said the shooting could be a hate crime based on a "manifesto" authorities believe is connected to the suspect. The diatribe, which was posted online, is anti-immigrant and anti-government. It also rails against big corporations. "Right now we have a manifesto from this individual that indicates to some degree that it has a nexus to a potential hate crime," Allen said.

Shoppers exit with their hands up after a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, U.S. August 3, 2019.

Police said they believe there was only one shooter. Law enforcement previously had reports of multiple shooters.

Authorities first received calls about a shooting at 10:39 a.m. local time and police were on the scene by 10:45 a.m. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies such as the ATF and FBI, assisted El Paso police.

The area around the Walmart and Cielo Vista Mall has since been secured, police said. But authorities asked people to stay clear of the area, which is an active crime scene. A reunification center for families has been set up at McCarthur Middle School.

Officials in El Paso said blood donations are "needed urgently" for victims transported to local hospitals.

Multiple ambulances were at the scene.

Walmart expressed shock at the shooting and said it was praying for the victims. The retailer said it is working closely with law enforcement and would provide updates as appropriate.

Gov. Abbott condemned the shooting as "a heinous and senseless act of violence." The state has deployed troopers, special agents, Texas rangers, tactical teams and aircraft in a support role, Abbott said.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting in El Paso and has spoken with Attorney General William Barr and Gov. Abbott, according to the White House. Trump pledged the federal government's support.

Attorney General Barr said "those who commit such atrocities should be held accountable swiftly and to the fullest extent the law allows."

The mass shooting in El Paso comes just days after another lethal shooting at a Walmart in Southhaven, Mississippi. A disgruntled former employee opened fire, killing two people and wounding a police officer.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said he couldn't believe that there were shootings at two Walmart locations within a week.

"My heart aches for the community in El Paso, especially the associates and customers at store 2201 and the families of the victims of today's tragedy," McMillon said in an Instagram post.