A Fort Bliss soldier is being hailed as a hero after he helped evacuate children from a Texas shopping mall during a deadly mass shooting on Saturday.

Pvt. 1st Class Glendon Oakley Jr., an automated logistical specialist assigned to the 504th Composite Supply Company stationed at Fort Bliss, was among hundreds of customers at the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso when a gunman opened fire.

At least 20 people died and 26 others were wounded.

El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen described the attack to reporters as “a hate crime.”

The suspected gunman is alive and in police custody.

In an interview with MSNBC, Oakley said he was shopping at a Foot Locker when a child ran into the store and reported the mass shooting. Seconds later, he heard gunfire.

Oakley, who has a gun permit, drew his weapon and ran out of the store.

× Fear of missing out? Sign up for the Army Times Daily News Roundup to receive the top Army stories every afternoon. Thanks for signing up. By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Army Times Daily News Roundup.

“I saw a whole bunch of kids running around without their parents … I tried to pick up as many as I could and bring them with me,” he told the news station.

This is Glen Oakley.



He was in the @FootLocker when the El Paso shooting happened. When he ran to leave, he saw kids in the mall without their parents, scared and alone.



So he picked up as many as he could and carried them to safety.



Focus on the heroes.#ElPasoShooting pic.twitter.com/1NofPvegjL — Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) August 3, 2019

“I’m in the military, so when I hear gunshots, I just think ‘take cover.’ But I was so worried about those kids.”

Oakley’s story began circulating as news of the shooting spread, with many on social media calling for more coverage of his heroic actions in lieu of details of the shooter’s life.

Fort Bliss officials did not issue an official statement about Oakley’s actions, but did confirm his status in the Army. They also noted that he has received the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Terrible shootings in ElPaso, Texas. Reports are very bad, many killed. Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement. Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2019

In a statement, White House officials said President Donald Trump was receiving updates throughout the day from his national security team. Federal officials were deployed to El Paso to help local authorities with their response to the shooting.