Shortly before he randomly shot dozens of people in West Texas on Saturday, the gunman called police, the FBI and 911 dispatchers, and made “rambling” statements in the wake of his job loss. His employer called 911 too, in vain.

Hours before carrying out the mass shooting that left seven dead and over 20 injured in Odessa, Texas, the gunman, Seth Aaron Ator, had made erratic calls to 911 and the FBI, Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke told reporters on Monday.

FBI special agent Christopher Combs described Ator’s call to the bureau as “rambling.” It's been confirmed the calls were made after the shooter lost his job at Journey Oil Field Services on Saturday morning.

AP: Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said shooter in TX rampage had been fired over the weekend. The shooter called 911 & the FBI after being fired Saturday. FBI special agent Christopher Combs says shooter's statements on the FBI tip line were "rambling." — Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) September 2, 2019

Ator’s employer also tried to call 911, Gerke said, but he had already left his workplace by the time police arrived.

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Ator was stopped by Texas state troopers for failing to signal a lane change soon after he made the calls to authorities. Police say he opened fire on the troopers and fled the scene, firing on passers-by and other vehicles on the roads in Midland and Odessa. The chase ended at an Odessa movie theater, where the gunman was fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

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