Texas leaders responded with rage, grief and calls for action after a mass slaying at an El Paso mall Saturday, in which the suspect was reportedly motivated by a “Hispanic invasion” and by the anti-immigrant extremist accused in mass shootings in March at a pair of New Zealand mosques.

However, Gov. Greg Abbott who has been criticized for failing to tighten gun laws, stayed focused on immediate matters, lauding first responders and asking the public to heed warnings from local officials and stay safe.

Abbott traveled to El Paso Saturday afternoon to decry what he called a “heinous and senseless act of violence.”

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific shooting and to the entire community in this time of loss,” the governor said in a statement. “While no words can provide the solace needed for those impacted by this event, I ask that all Texans join Cecilia and me in offering our prayers for the victims and their families.”

“The state of Texas will do everything it can to ensure justice is delivered to the perpetrators of this heinous act.”

Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn voiced similar sentiments.

“Our hearts go out to the families of those killed and injured in El Paso today,” Cornyn tweeted. “We stand with all El Pasoans in the face of this senseless violence, and thank the brave @eppolice officers & first responders. I stand ready to help @ElPasoTXGov and @Mayor_Margo any way I can.”

“My heart is with everyone in El Paso struck by this unspeakable evil,” said Cruz in a statement. “Heidi and I are praying for the victims and their families and grateful for the first responders, local authorities, and law enforcement officers working tirelessly to bring the perpetrator of this depraved act to justice and keep the entire community safe. There are millions of people in Texas and across the country standing behind you.”

Others also expressed heartache that violence had ruptured the lives of so many.

“We are heartbroken for our families in El Paso,” wrote Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston. He then continued in Spanish, saying he hoped God would give them strength during this profoundly difficult time and said expressed that people are ready to help.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, posted on social media, “I am devastated to learn of the mass shooting in El Paso,” she said, adding, “I mourn the lives lost and hold their loved ones in my heart as they navigate this horror.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner said he reached out to El Paso’s mayor, Dee Margo, to offer assistance.

“We offer prayers and condolences but much more is required,” Turner posted on Twitter. “Doing nothing is not solving the problem.”

Many delivered messages of grief along with pointed attacks at the Trump administration.

State Rep Gene Wu, D-Houston, expressed condolences while calling for immediate action to pass “sensible gun laws” at the statehouse.

“We will fight harder against racists and White Supremacists who target our communities. We will hold Trump accountable for enabling these terrorists,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher posted that she believes public safety is the first obligation of government amid the tragedy in “a vibrant community” brimming with “generosity and kindness,” “that does so much to take care of each other.”

“I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass common-sense gun safety laws to keep all Americans safer. We have passed #HR8 and #HR1112. We will keep working. The Senate must, too,” Fletcher wrote Saturday. “Mass shootings have become such a frequent occurrence in the U.S. that officials swiftly make the shift from reacting to what happened to bracing themselves against what they perceive may be the next possible threat.”

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, wrote, “I believe in the power of prayer so I will pray for El Paso. I also believe in the power of public policy. We have to do more! The Senate has to get off its behind and pass our comprehensive background checks bill.”

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he is angry.

"Heartbreaking," he said. "I mourn the lives lost and pray for everyone harmed by this tragic shooting. But I'm angry, too. We all should be.Our laws should protect people not the gun lobby. Those who stand in the way of common-sense gun reform need to step aside or do their job. Enough."

During a Fox news segment, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took the opportunity to issue a stern warning to Antifa, an antifascist group that posted that it was planning a 10-day demonstration in Texas in the coming weeks over border issues.

“Stay out of Texas,” Patrick said. “Antifa is not welcome at any time, but certainly not now.”We didn’t need them to begin with, before this happened. But, I would say to Antifa: Scratch Texas off your map and don’t come in. It is not the time and place for them to come at any time, but particularly in the aftermath of what just happened in El Paso.”

gabrielle.banks@chron.com