Ohio authorities have identified the suspected gunman who opened fire on patrons at a bar early Sunday morning, killing nine and injuring 27 others 'in less than a minute' as Connor Betts (pictured)

The sister of the Ohio gunman Connor Betts was shot dead by him after they drove together to the downtown Dayton area where he launched his massacre, according to police.

Megan Betts and her brother drove together to the Oregon District, before they went separate ways, police told NBC News.

Investigators said that after they separated, Connor Betts began his shooting spree, although Megan Betts was not his first victim.

Police say the first victim was shot in an alley where the car was parked.

Connor Betts then emerged onto East Fifth Street and ran toward Ned Peppers bar while firing, killing another eight people including his sister.

'She was not the first victim,' Police Chief Richard S. Biehl said of Megan Betts.

'But she was one of the initial victims.'

'Right as he came out of the alleyway, she and another male who was a companion of the suspect was shot and wounded,' Biehl said.

'So they were victims initially after the first person was shot.'

Megan Betts's companion was among the 27 people wounded. He has been interviewed by law enforcement.

Connor Betts was wearing body armor when he gunned down patrons outside the Ned Peppers Bar in the Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio, around 1am on Sunday.

Officers arrived to the scene immediately, and were able to 'put an end to it quickly', Lt Col Matt Carper said at a press conference.

Betts, of Bellbrook, was identified as the suspect around noon. He was shot dead by responding officers.

Because officers were in the area when the shooting started, they killed Betts in 'less than a minute,' authorities said.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said during a Sunday morning press conference that had police not responded so quickly, 'hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today'.

Whaley said Betts was carrying a .223-caliber rifle and had additional high-capacity magazines with him. Betts opened fire on the bar from the street.

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It was also revealed that Betts' sister, Megan, was killed. Megan is pictured with her brother, Connor Betts

The rifle used by Connor Betts in his killing spree, next to a high-capacity magazine

Authorities have not established a motive for the attack, but it has been reported that six of the nine victims were African-American men. Betts is pictured with his sister, Megan (left)

Police released the identities of the other victims Sunday afternoon: Lois Ogelsby, 27, Saeed Saleh, 38, Derek Fudge, 57, Logan Turner, 30, Nicholas Cumer, 25, Thomas McNichols, 25, Beatrice Warren Curtis, 36, and 39-year-old Monica Brickhouse.

The mayor said a community vigil is planned for the victims at 8pm on Sunday evening.

Police issued search warrant on Betts' home earlier on Sunday and are still trying to establish a motive.

Though several African-American men and women were killed during the attack, police said they haven't found any indications that the shooting was one of racial or political motive.

However, police did find writings that suggest Betts had an interest in killing people.

Police released images of the rifle and additional high-capacity magazines used by the gunman

Monica Brickhouse (left), 39, and Lois Ogelsby (right), 27, both leave behind young children

Beatrice Warren Curtis (left and right), 36, was at the bar with her friend Brickhouse when they were both killed by the gunman

'It's a very tragic incident and we're doing everything we can to investigate it and try to identify the motivation behind this,' Carper said.

At least 27 others are being treated at area hospitals, though no details about their conditions have been released. At least one person is in critical condition.

Miami Valley Hospital spokeswoman Terrea Little said 16 of the victims were brought to the hospital, but she couldn't confirm their conditions.

Kettering Health Network spokeswoman Elizabeth Long said multiple victims from the shooting had been brought to system hospitals, but she didn't have details on how many.

Authorities said of the 27 injured, 15 have been discharged from the hospital and several people remain in serious or critical condition.

According to his LinkedIn page, Betts attended Sinclair Community College where he studied psychology between 2017-2019. He had been working at a Chipotle in Centerville.

Before Chipotle, Betts worked at a Marathon gas station.

'I was their go-to guy for anything that needed done - changing lights, painting the walls, covering shifts. Beyond that, I worked the weekend shifts for 3 years - Friday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Unfortunately, I started school and Chipotle, and I had to drop Marathon,' he wrote.

Nicolas Cumer (pictured), 25, was a graduate student in the master of cancer care program at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania

Betts' sister, Megan, was studying biological sciences at Wright State University, according to her Facebook page.

The two appeared to be really close as Facebook photos show them smiling for the camera.

Brickhouse was among the first victims to be identified. She leaves behind a six-year-old son.

According to a friend, Brickhouse was with her friend, Curtis, when they were both killed.

Ogelsby had just had her second child in June. Several photos on her Facebook page show the young mother cradling her baby girl, Reign.

She also had another young daughter.

Cumer was a graduate student in the master of cancer care program at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania.

He had completed his undergraduate work at the university as an exercise physiology major.

The university's president, Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, released a statement explaining that Cumer had been in Dayton 'as part of his internship program with the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance'.

'Nicholas was dedicated to caring for others. He was recognized at the 2019 Community Engagement Awards among students who had completed 100+ hours of service.

'In addition he was a graduate assistant with the university marching band. We join the nation in mourning Nicholas, along side all of the victims of this tragedy,' the statement reads.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends during this most difficult time. A Mass in Nicholas' memory will be arranged on campus this week, and we will share other arrangements as we learn of them.'

The university is also providing counseling services for community members. The Counseling Office may be reached at 814-472-3211.

The Ohio shooting is the second mass shooting in the US in less than 24 hours.

Betts was wearing body armor when he opened fire on patrons at the Ned Peppers Bar in Dayton, according to police

Dayton police said that an active shooter situation began in the Oregon District at 1am, but officers (pictured at the scene) nearby were able to 'put an end to it quickly'. Lt Col Matt Carper said at a press conference that the suspect, later identified as Betts, was shot dead by officers

Miami Valley Hospital spokeswoman Terrea Little said 16 of the 27 victims have been received at the hospital, but she couldn't confirm their conditions. Pictured are two staffers from the bar

Authorities said the gunman was carrying a .223-caliber rifle and had additional high-capacity magazines with him

Shoes are piled outside the scene of the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, Sunday morning

The Ohio shooting, which took place at the Ned Peppers Bar (pictured) in Dayton, is the second mass shooting in the US in less than 24 hours

In a Facebook post, the bar confirmed that their employees were safe.

'All of our staff is safe and our hearts go out to everyone involved as we gather information,' the post reads.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the Dayton shooting and is monitoring the situation, Deputy Press Secretary Steven Groves said.

In a series of tweets on Sunday morning, Trump said 'information is rapidly being accumulated in Dayton'.

'God bless the people of El Paso Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio,' he said in another tweet.

The president condemned both shootings as 'hateful and cowardly acts'. He also ordered that the flags at the White House, all public government buildings and facilities abroad to be lowered to half staff until sunset on August 8.

Democratic Sen Sherrod Brown of Ohio says 'thoughts and prayers are not enough' after a shooter killed nine people and wounded dozens more before he was killed by police in Dayton.

In a statement Sunday, Brown says he is angry that state and national lawmakers won't pass more gun safety laws.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (pictured) said during a Sunday morning press conference that had police not responded so quickly, 'hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today'

An American Red Cross disaster relief vehicle has been set up outside the Dayton Convention Center, where families of victims were asked to check in

The suspect opened fire on the Ned Peppers Bar in Dayton, Ohio, from the street, according to witnesses

Several proposals have been introduced in the GOP-led Legislature this session that would tighten requirements on firearms sales, transfers and storage.

A gun safety group is also pushing to change state law to require background checks on nearly all guns sales.

The Republican who leads the Ohio Senate also shared a statement praising the quick response from Dayton police.

Just before noon on Sunday, Bellbrook, Ohio, Police Chief Doug Doherty announced that authorities served a search warrant at the home of the gunman.

It is unclear what evidence has been collected from the home.

Nikita Papillon, 23, was across the street at Newcom's Tavern when the shooting started. She said she saw a girl she had talked to earlier lying outside the bar.

'She had told me she liked my outfit and thought I was cute, and I told her I liked her outfit and I thought she was cute,' Papillon said.

Bodies of the victims being removed from at the scene of a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio

She herself had been to Ned Peppers the night before, describing it as the kind of place 'where you don't have to worry about someone shooting up the place.'

'People my age, we don't think something like this is going to happen,' she said. 'And when it happens, words can't describe it.'

Tianycia Leonard, 28, was in the back, smoking, at Newcom's. She heard 'loud thumps' that she initially thought was people pounding on a dumpster.

'It was so noisy, but then you could tell it was gunshots and there was a lot of rounds,' Leonard said.

Gov Mike DeWine issued his own statement before 7am, announcing that he's ordered flags in Ohio remain at half-mast and offered assistance to Whaley.

'Fran and I are absolutely heartbroken over the horrible attack that occurred this morning in Dayton, the statement said.

'We join those across Ohio and this country in offering our prayers to victims and their families.'

Police scanners initially stated a second shooter could have left the area in a dark-colored Jeep, but police later stated there was only one suspect who was shot dead.

The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

Officers were initially hunting for a second gunman who fled the scene in a dark Jeep, but police later said the only suspect was shot dead at the scene

Officers nearby the scene of the shooting were able to 'put an end to it quickly' and gunman was shot dead

#BREAKING: Just getting on scene in Oregon District. Dozens of police here. Working to confirm numbers and conditions on those shot. @dayton247now pic.twitter.com/hKtaoLTJpN — Molly Reed (@MollyR247Now) August 4, 2019

In a Facebook live post, a witness claimed the the gunman was wearing a bulletproof vest and earmuffs.

He said: '[The shooter] came up with an AR-15, had a vest on, earmuffs, just started blowing bullets everywhere. I'm safe. There is casualties everywhere.'

The witness said the attacker was a 'white man in all black with an AR' who opened fire for 30 seconds 'killing or injuring 10 to 20 people'.

On social media, customers at the bar said that many people were 'piling on top of each other to get out'.

The Oregon District is a historic neighborhood that Carper described as 'a safe part of downtown,' home to entertainment options, including bars, restaurants and theaters.

'This is extremely unusual, obviously, for any community, let alone Dayton,' Carper said. 'In our Oregon District, this is unheard of.'

A family assistance center was set up at the Dayton Convention Center.

Police officers walking behind police cordon following the mass shooting in the popular bar and nightlife Oregon district in Dayton

Officers were near the scene so there was 'a very short timeline of violence', Dayton police said

Another witness said the attacker shot people sitting outside then tried to get into the bar but was stopped at the door.

James Williams: 'Sad people are not right. I'm safe. Happened right in front of the patio where I was sitting in front of Neds. The guy in front of Ned Peppers' door is the active shooter.

'He tried to go into the bar but did not make it through the door. Someone took the gun from him and he got shot and is dead.

'There are at least eight people dead right by the picnic table where I was on the street. A bunch of people taken to the hospital. I don't know how any... this place is a disaster.'

On Twitter, one witness said he was 'the next person to get my ID checked' in the line for Ned Peppers Bar, 'when dude started shooting five feet from me'.

In an earlier tweet, he said: 'Police just killed dude five feet in front of me... I can't go out in this city anymore.'

A man identifying himself as Jeff told local media he is a bouncer at a bar next door to Ned Peppers and was 20 feet from the gunman and saw the muzzle flashes.

He added: 'He damaged our city.'

Officers also reportedly checked other nearby bars to check if there are any further victims or if the attacker targeted other establishments.

Singer Lizzo said it was a 'close call' for her family after Dayton mass shooting Lizzo said it was a 'close call' for her family after the massacre in Dayton in the early hours of this morning Lizzo has said it was a 'close call' for her family after a shooting in Dayton, Ohio, left nine dead and at least 16 injured. The singer is among the stars speaking out about gun control in the US after two mass shootings in the space of 24 hours. Lizzo tweeted: 'Just got off the phone w/ fam in Dayton... it was a close call for them but that's not the case for 9 other families between this & the terrorist attack in El Paso & recent other shootings. 'I feel completely helpless.. make noise & bring awareness.. vote.. don't normalize this.' The suspect in El Paso has been identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius of the Dallas area. Meanwhile, actress Julianne Moore shared a photograph of women hugging each other outside the Texas shopping centre and wrote: 'TAKE ACTION: The House of Representatives passed a bill to require background checks on all gun sales. Now, the Senate must act. Cardi B shared a picture of the EL Paso shooter, adding a border wall would not fix America's problem of mass killings 'In honor of El Paso, text CHECKS to 644-33 to be connected with your Senators and tell them to act on background checks.' Rapper Cardi B shared a picture of the alleged shooter on Instagram with text that pointed out he is not an immigrant, not a Muslim and not a member of ISIS, adding the US has a problem that a wall on the Mexican border will not fix. The West Wing actor Bradley Whitford wrote on Twitter: '3000 died on 9/11. Over 10 times that many Americans die EVERY YEAR from gun violence. 'The NRA/GOP think the blood of 40,000 innocent souls is the price of freedom. 'Universal background checks are too high a price to pay. It is a perverse culture of death perpetrated for profit.' The Wire star Wendell Pierce, who has recently been living in London while he appears in an acclaimed stage production of Death Of A Salesman, wrote: 'I have lived in Bogata, Colombia; Montreal, Canada; Marrakesh, Morocco; and London England for most of the last 3 years. 'What has become clear to me is mass murders are culturally an American thing. We are a violent society. More murder in 2 weeks home than in all 3 years abroad.' Advertisement

The latest massacre came around 14 hours after America's 10th worst mass shooting which saw 20 people shot dead and 26 injured when a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.

Patrick Crusius wrote an anti-immigrant manifesto published on an online forum detailing his hatred of Hispanic people.

The 21-year-old wrote, 'I'm probably going to die today' in his 2,300-word manifesto titled 'The Inconvenient Truth'.

He went on to say his gun massacre, which is the worst attack in the US of 2019 so far, was inspired directly by the shootings of two mosques in Christchurch New Zealand earlier this year, which left 51 people dead.

Just days before, on July 28, 19-year-old suspected gunman, William Legan, shot and killed three people, including two children, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California.

The El Paso shooting was the 21st mass killing in the US in 2019, according to the Northeastern University mass murder database that tracks all US homicides.

That makes Sunday's shooting in Dayton the 22nd mass killed in the US this year.

The first 20 mass killings in the US in 2019 claimed 96 lives.

On Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the attacks on 'defenseless people' in the spate of gun violence in the US.

Speaking to thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square for his Sunday message and blessing, Francis said he was spiritually close to the victims, the wounded and the families affected by attacks he said had 'bloodied Texas, California and Ohio'.

Francis said all three attacks targeted 'defenseless people'.

Francis, who has in the past criticized the gun manufacturing industry, then led the crowd in reciting a Hail Mary for the victims.

Democratic presidential candidates have pointed a finger of blame at Trump following the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

In television interviews, several urged additional gun restrictions such as universal background checks. But they also cited Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and racial language.

Julian Castro, who previously served as San Antonio mayor and US housing secretary, pointed to a 'toxic brew' of white nationalism and says Trump needs to do more to 'unite Americans instead of fanning the flames of bigotry'.

Beto O'Rourke, a former congressman from Texas, accused Trump of being a white nationalist and says he is encouraging 'open racism'.

New Jersey senator Cory Booker says Trump bears responsibility because he has done nothing to call out rising hatred in the US.

Blink-182 band member on lock down in hotel after El Paso massacre Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus has said the band were 'locked down' in a hotel following the mass shooting in El Paso. The group had been due to play a show at the UTEP Don Haskins Arena in the Texas border town when 20 people were killed and more than two dozen injured in a shooting in a busy shopping centre. Hoppus said the band were leaving breakfast and due to head to the mall when they heard reports of the shooting. He added there were initially incorrect reports that another attack was also taking place at another mall. He wrote on Twitter: 'We are locked down in our hotel in el paso. over the intercom system they just announced that there are reports of another active shooter directly across the street at a location different from the first shootings. Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 was reportedly locked down in a hotel in El Paso 'We were leaving breakfast when our security texted that there was an active shooter at the mall we were headed to. 'Saw dozens of police cars on the freeway and surface streets. helicopters. we got back to the hotel and turned on the news to see what was happening. then the intercom said there are reports of another shooting across the street at the bassett place mall. 'I don't see or hear police or helicopters so hopefully it's just an over abundance of caution and someone got the malls confused. So terrible.' He later updated fans that the initial reports of a second shooting were incorrect, writing: 'Update: police confirm report of a separate incident at bassett mall is incorrect. we are still in our hotel. federal agent at the door to the building.' The band announced the gig was postponed in light of the events, writing on Twitter: 'Following today's terrible tragedy in El Paso we are postponing our Sunday, August 4th show at the UTEP Don Haskins Arena in solidarity with the community. 'Please stay tuned for further updates coming soon. Sending our love to the entire community of El Paso.' Advertisement

'This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas': El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius, 21, posted twisted anti-Mexican manifesto online 20 minutes before storming store with an AK-47, shooting dead 20 people and wounding 26

Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old man from Allen, Texas was arrested at the scene of Saturday's massacre at the Cielo Vista Mall. He would later go on to tell investigators he wanted to shoot as many Mexicans as possible in the massacre

By Luke Kenton

Just nineteen minutes before the first shots rang out at an El Paso Walmart in what would go on to become the deadliest mass shooting of 2019, the man responsible for the killings allegedly uploaded a twisted and seething anti-immigrant manifesto to an online forum outlining his sickening motives.

The 2,300 word screed, attributed to the author P.Crucius on one website, speaks of a perceived 'Hispanic invasion of Texas', a detailed plan to segregate ethnic minorities into separate territories of the country, and expresses a belief that white people will soon be 'ethnically replaced'.

Authorities say the the suspect behind Saturday's mass shooting at the Cielo Vista Mall that killed at least 20 and injured 26 more, is believed to be the author of the heinous document.

The suspect has been tentatively identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, of Allen, Texas - a town some 645 miles from the scene of Saturday's massacre.

'F*** this is going to be so s*** but I can't wait any longer,' the author of the document wrote uploading it to the comment board. 'I'm probably going to die today.'

The manifesto, titled 'The Inconvenient Truth', begins declaring the imminent shooting to be inspired directly by the shootings of two mosques in Christchurch New Zealand earlier this year, which left 51 people dead.

El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said in a press conference: 'Right now we have a manifesto from this individual - that indicates to some degree - it has a nexus to potential hate crime.'

One suspect in Saturday's mass shooting in El Paso is in custody. He has been identified in press reports as Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old man from Dallas. Crusius is allegedly the man seen in surveillance footage walking in through the front entrance of the Walmart with an AK-47 assault rifle

The gunman is seen wearing what appears to be either headphones or ear defenders during the shooting on Saturday

In the New Zealand killer's manifesto, the author promoted a white supremacist theory called 'the great replacement'.

In the latest manifesto, the author voices a similar ideology but insists 'this attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas'.

The author added that they were: 'defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.'.

The Cielo Vista Mall is a popular shopping destination for people both sides of the US-Mexico border.

On a weekend the city attracts droves of shoppers from Mexico, including from its Mexican sister city Ciudad Juarez, who flock to the mall and return back across the border with their groceries.

The author says he believes 'American is rotting from the inside out,' and speculates that 'the heavy Hispanic population in Texas' will make the state 'a democratic stronghold' for generations to come.

In addition to stating his ideological beliefs, the author discusses the type of weaponry he will be using in the looming massacre, making reference to an 'AK47' rife but insisting he'd rather have used something more powerful.

In Saturday's shooting, Crusius is allegedly the man seen in surveillance footage walking in through the front entrance of the Cielo Vista Mall Walmart with an AK47-styled assault rifle.

Panicked shoppers flee the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso on Saturday after a gunman opened fire inside a nearby Walmart

Crusius is allegedly the man seen in surveillance footage walking in through the front entrance of the Walmart with an AK-47 assault rifle. He is seen right in a photograph that was reportedly taken after his arrest in El Paso on Saturday

The gunman, wearing what appears to be ear defenders and cargo pants, first opened fire in the parking lot outside the store, shooting and killing 'locals that were fundraising outside the Walmart selling water. Children and adults.'

He then walked through the front door in a calm and confident state, as if he was 'on a mission', a witness said.

The twenty-minute massacre that followed would go on to become the eighth deadliest in US history.

'I have do this before I lose my nerve,' the author wrote, adding that he hadn't spent 'much time at all' plotting the shooting.

'I figured that an under-prepared attack and a meh manifesto is better than attack and no manifesto,' he added.

The author adds that he isn't racist and insists his opinions 'predate Trump and his campaign for president.'

At least 20 people were killed and 26 others injured when a gunman, believed to be Patrick Crusius of Allen, Texas, opened fire inside an El Paso Walmart on Saturday.

He then walked through the front door in a calm and confident state, as if he was 'on a mission', a witness said.

The twenty-minute massacre that followed would go on to become the eighth deadliest in US history.

Local reports indicate that at least 20 people were killed in the shooting in El Paso on Saturday

Heavily armed police are seen outside the Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso on Saturday

In a press conference, El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen confirmed the suspect to be a 21-year-old from Allen but declined to confirm his name.

Crusius' family home in Dallas is some 650 miles - or a nine hour drive - from the scene of the shooting in the southern Texas city, which has a large Hispanic population.

Three Mexican nationals are among the dead, according to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, with another six among the injured.

The Cielo Vista Mall is a popular shopping destination for people both sides of the US-Mexico border.

Police arrived at the scene six minutes after the gunman first opened fire.

The culprit surrendered his weapon inside the store as soon as he came into contact with law enforcement.

The 21-year-old was taken into custody 'without incident'. Officers didn't fire any shots during the arrest, officials said.

Currently, prosecutors say they're seeking capital murder charges against the suspect but may also proceed with hate crime or domestic terrorism charges, pending the outcome of an FBI investigation into the 'anti-immigrant' manifesto.

He would later go on to tell investigators he wanted to shoot as many Mexicans as possible, according to ABC News.

'Today's shooting in El Paso, Texas was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice,' President Trump tweeted Saturday. 'I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today's hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people.

Law enforcement officials are seen in front of a Hooters restaurant, which was placed on lock down during the shooting

El Paso is located on the border separating the United States and Mexico

'Melania and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the great people of Texas,' he continued.

Del Sol Medical Center said the hospital received 11 victims - nine of them listed in critical but stable condition.

Two of those treated were in stable condition.

The University Medical Center of El Paso received 13 patients, a spokesperson said.

Two minors, including a two-year-old, were stabilized and transferred to El Paso Children's Hospital.

The victims' conditions ranged from minor injury to fatal.

According to public records, Crusius' last known address was his family's home in Allen, Texas, where he lived with his parents, twin sister and older brother.

The home, around 30 minutes outside of Dallas and more than 9 hours drive away from El Paso, is reportedly being raided by police.

Alice Baland, who lives four houses down, said a retired couple lives at the home. She described them as sweet people who regularly attend church.

It's not clear if Crusius has any connections to the El Paso area.

A video of the suspect's arrest was captured by a witness on Snapchat and has since circulated on various social media platforms.

The man depicted in the video matches the description of the shooter and resembles the profile of Crusius.

When the first shots rang out, the Walmart store was set to be 'at capacity' with more than 3,000 shoppers inside hoping to get ahead of the busy back-to-school season.

At least three other businesses in the area were placed on lock down as a result of the shooting, including a Red Lobster franchise and a Hooter's location.

One witness said he saw at least one person inside the store with a fatal head wound, and he saw shoppers in bloodied clothes.

Witness Miguel Rodriguez told The Daily Beast the gunman, 'started shooting everyone, aisle by aisle, with rage.'

Witnesses told CBS 4 News they believe the suspect only stopped shooting because he ran out of ammunition.

Video posted on Twitter showed customers at one department store being evacuated with their hands up.

'Hands in the air!' an officer can be heard shouting in the footage.

Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the U.S. On protester's sign reads: 'No more guns'

In a tweet on Saturday evening, Trump called the El Paso attack an 'act of cowardice' but didn't respond to calls from Democrats to reform gun ownership lawa

'We heard shots and saw smoke,' said Victor Gamboa, 18, who works at the McDonald's inside the Walmart store where the shooting took place.

'I saw a man on the floor full of blood. He appeared to be dead. It happened very quickly.'

Gamboa said employees sheltered customers who huddled on the ground during the shooting rampage.

They were on the ground for some 15 minutes until officers arrived and led the survivors to a Sam's Club across the street.

A family of three was one of a dozen waiting outside a local bus station, trying to get back to their car, in blocked-off Walmart parking lot.

'I heard the shots but I thought they were hits, like roof construction,' said Adriana Quezada, 39, who was in Walmart with in the women's clothing section with her two children.

She said she saw four men, dressed in black, wearing shirts, moved together firing guns indiscriminately.

'I saw four men, shooting everywhere,' Quezada said.

'I told my son, those are gunshots.'

Her daughter, 19, and son, 16, threw themselves on the ground, then ran out of the Walmart through an emergency exit.

They were unhurt.

Evan McMorris-Santoro, a reporter for the Vice news site, tweeted that he was at a town hall event for House Rep. Veronica Escobar when it was shut down due to the situation nearby.

Morris-Santoro clarified that the scene was 'not close to us.'

Beto O'Rourke, the Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. congressman who represented El Paso, tweeted: 'Truly heartbreaking. Stay safe, El Paso.

A separate angle of the arrest is captured by a bus passenger, showing the currently unnamed suspect being led away

'Please follow all directions of emergency personnel as we continue to get more updates.'

After his tweet, O'Rourke said he was distraught by the news of the mass-shooting in his hometown.

An emotional O'Rourke told reporters on Saturday in Las Vegas that he had spoken by phone to El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, the city's sheriff and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar.

He says they were still learning details about the attack at or near the Cielo Vista Mall, in which police say multiple people were killed and a suspect was taken into custody.

O'Rourke said he planned to return home immediately to be with his family.

He asked 'for everyone's strength for El Paso right now. Everyone's resolve to make sure that this does not continue to happen in this country.'

O'Rourke's successor, House Rep. Veronica Escobar, tweeted: 'Utterly heartbroken by the developing news in El Paso.

'Monitoring the situation and in communication with our law enforcement. Please stay safe.'

Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemned the shooting as 'a heinous and senseless act of violence.'

He also thanked first responders for helping to minimalize civilian casualties by acting swiftly, courageously and effectively.

The White House says President Trump has been briefed on the shooting and has spoken to Attorney General William Barr and Abbott.

Trump tweeted: 'Today's shooting in El Paso, Texas was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today's hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people.

A number of local businesses, stores, shops, and restaurants were placed on lock down during the shooting. Crusius' family home in Dallas (seen top right in the map) is some 650 miles - or a nine hour drive - from the scene of the shooting in El Paso

Two Walmart employees comfort one another outside the El Paso mall in the wake of the shooting's aftermath

'Melania and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the great people of Texas,' he continued.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo voiced his outrage over the shooting too, but also issued a damning indictment of Washington and the Trump administration for failing to take a hard-line stance on gun-control and against the NRA.

'My heart breaks for the victims of the horrific shooting in El Paso earlier today,' Cuomo began.

'While President Trump cowardly kowtows to the NRA, the gun violence epidemic is tearing apart our nation and people are dying.

'Thoughts and prayers will not stop this madness. In New York, we stand up to the NRA. We stand up for the safety of children. We stand up for sanity.

'It's past time leaders in Washington did the same. Until they do, these senseless murders will continue,' Cuomo added.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also added they were praying for the friends and families of the victims and took the time to thank first responders for their life-saving work.

Both politicians also called for their DC peers to take action against gun-violence.

'Too many families in too many communities have been forced to endure the daily horror of gun violence. Enough is enough,' Pelosi said. 'The Republican Senate's continued inaction dishonors our solemn duty to protect innocent men, women and children and end this epidemic once and for all.'

Presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson extended her thoughts to the people 'throughout my beloved home state of Texas, in this agonizing moment.'

'And prayers for all the rest of us as well, that we might summon up the courage to remove this scourge of gun violence from our midst. Let us pray and let us act,' she continued.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives announced that it has dispatched federal agents to the scene to assist local law enforcement.

'Please stay away from the area and refrain from posting first responder activity on social media,' the ATF's Dallas bureau tweeted on Saturday.

A family that was shopping near Walmart during the shooting sought cover in nearby Landry's Seafood, hostess Sofia Cervantes told USA TODAY.

'They are in shock right now,' Cervantes said. 'They were barely able to talk to us.'

People hold hands during a vigil for victims at St Pius X Church

An employee of a nearby Olive Garden told The New York Times that the restaurant was also placed in lock down.

At least 10 people ran into the restaurant seeking cover, the employee said.

'We don't have any information, just that there's an active shooter at the Walmart in the same parking lot as we are,' the employee said.

'We're just on lock down right now.

'The SWAT team just came in and told us that they had cleared the building and told us lock the doors.'

An assistant manager at a Men's Wearhouse in the Cielo Vista Mall said at least 15 people came into the store when the shooting started.

Susana Franco said police officers, military and the SWAT team could be seen from her store's front windows.

'They're not letting people in the parking lot,' she said. 'They're trying to evacuate all of the mall.'

A Walmart employee told KTSM that she was working by the self-checkout when the first gunshots rang out.

The employee, named Leslie, said she initially thought the loud bang was caused by boxes being dropped.

'I thought it was just like loud boxes being dropped or something, until they got closer and closer,' she said. 'That's when I looked at my co-worker, and we looked at each other like shocked and scared.'

'I got all the people that I could, I even found a little girl that was missing from her parents, and I got her, too. I tried to get as many people as I could out,' she said.

Throughout the day there had been numerous reports on social media of multiple shooters at the scene and at other locations.

Police later said that following the arrest of Crusius, there was no further threat.

On his LinkedIn page in 2015, Crusius wrote that he was not motivated to do anything other than 'enough to get by'. The page was taken down from the website shortly after Crusius was tentatively associated with the shooting.

His profile states that he attended Plano High School. Another source said he may have also attended and later graduated from Liberty High School in Frisco.

'I'm not really motivated to do anything more than what's necessary to get by,' he wrote in the About section of his LinkedIn profile. 'Working in general sucks, but I guess a career in Software Development suits me well. I spend about 8 hours every day on the computer so that counts as technology experience I guess. Pretty much gonna see what technology careers present themselves; go with the wind.'

Referencing his time at high school, Crusius said that he didn't participate in extracurricular activities citing a 'lack of freedom.'

No one was shot inside the Cielo Vista Mall or on its property, according to Simon Property Group Chief Marketing Officer Mikael Thygesen. 4,000 people were said to be inside the facility at the time.

Thygesen says the shooting occurred on Walmart's property and in the Walmart parking lot.

The mall was put on lockdown as a result of the shooting, Thygesen said, but there is said to be no ongoing threat to the public at this time.

Walmart issued a statement on its Twitter account which read: 'We're in shock over the tragic events at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, where store 2201 & club 6502 are located.

'We're praying for the victims, the community & our associates, as well as the first responders.

'We're working closely with law enforcement & will update as appropriate.'

In an urgent call to action on Twitter, local authorities have urged members of the public to come forward to donate blood as the victim count of the massacre continues to rise.

At least two blood donation centers in the area were open in the shooting's wake: Vitalant Blood Services on 424 S. Mesa Hills Dr and on 1338 N Zaragoza Rd.

As of Saturday afternoon, a Facebook post from Vitalant said that 240 units of blood had been supplied to victims of the shooting, and that both of the donation centers were now at capacity as a result of the overwhelming response.

'We will need your precious donations going forward for ongoing victim needs and to replenish supplies,' the center said.

El Paso has a population of 680,000, of which 83 percent are of Hispanic descent, according to US census figures.

In recent months El Paso has also become one of the busiest entry points for undocumented migrants, especially from Central America, seeking asylum in the United States.

On a weekend the city attracts droves of shoppers from Mexico, including from its Mexican sister city Ciudad Juarez, population 1.5 million.