Nine people have been killed and at least 26 injured after a shooting at a bar in Ohio today in the second US massacre in 14 hours.

Police responded to calls about an active shooter in the area of East 5th Street in the Oregon District on Dayton, according to WHIO-TV.

The the gunman, who was using a 'long gun', was killed by police who were nearby in the early hours of this morning.

Customers said on social media many at Ned Peppers Bar were 'piling on top of each other to get out'.

Witnesses described 'casualties everywhere' and an attacker who was a 'white man dressed all in black'.

The latest massacre came around 14 hours after America's tenth worst mass shooting which saw 20 people shot dead when a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, yesterday.

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

Police and emergency services at the scene today in Dayton where nine people were killed at around 1am this morning

Shell casings could be seen on the ground outside Ned Peppers Bar where nine people were killed. Police left markers at the scene

Authorities removing the bodies of the victims after a gunman opened fire on people sitting outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio

One witness described seeing a 'white man in all black' firing a machine gun at a bar in Dayton, Ohio. Pictured are police at the scene after the attacker was shot dead

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.

In Ohio the gunman reportedly shot people sitting outside Ned Peppers Bar in the bustling Oregon District.

Police say the 'active shooter situation began' at 1am in the historic district, but that officers nearby were able to 'put an end to it quickly'.

He was wearing body armour and used a .223 high-capacity gun and had additional magazines with him, Dayton mayor Nan Whaley said in a news conference this morning.

She added: 'The officers were there less than a minute from the beginning of the shooting. The shooter was able to kill nine people and injure 26 in less than a minute.

'In less than one minute, Dayton first responders neutralised the shooter.'

Further information, including the suspected shooter's identity and motive, have not yet been released and are still being investigated.

But eye witnesses said the shooter was white, wearing a bulletproof vest and earmuffs and was stooped from entering the bar at the door.

Assistant Police Chief Matt Carper said the shooter used a 'long gun with multiple rounds' during 'a very short timeline of violence' that could have been 'much, much worse'.

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

A police scanners stated there may have been as many as 10 victims killed but so far police have only confirmed nine fatalities, according to Dayton Daily News.

Lieutenant Colonel Carper said: 'We had one shooter that we are aware of and multiple victims,' he told reporters.

'The shooter is deceased, from gunshot wounds from the responding officers,' he said, adding no police were injured.

'We have nine victims deceased...and we have approximately 16 more victims hospitalised right now in unknown conditions.'

Authorities working at the scene of a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio. It came less than 24 hours after America's tenth worst ever massacre

Witnesses comfort one another at the scene of the mass killing in the early hours of this morning in Dayton, Ohio

Bodies of the victims being removed from at the scene as the identity and potential of the suspect is being investigated

Police forensic teams marked out where shell casings fell in the road after the second US gun massacre in 14 hours

The casualty figure of 16 was later raised to 26 by the authorities.

The suspect had opened fire on the street firing 'a long gun with multiple rounds'.

Police were working to identify the shooter and the FBI were on scene to provide any necessary assistance, he added.

Carper said Oregon was 'a very safe part of downtown' Dayton and very popular with visitors.

He added: 'Fortunately we had multiple officers in the immediate vicinity when this incident started so there was a very short timeline of violence, for that we've very fortunate.

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

'We're still interviewing obviously a lot of witnesses as well as officers to determine if anyone else was involved.'

Police scanners initially immediate in the aftermath a second shooter could have left the area in a dark-coloured Jeep, but police later stated there was only one suspect who was shot dead. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

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

He wrote: 'There was just at terrorist attack out here in Dayton OH. Oregon district. White man in all black with an AR just opened fire for 30 seconds straight, Killing or injuring 10-20 people.'

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

The killer's identity and motives have not yet been released. Pictured are law enforcement officers at the scene in Dayton

Officers nearby Ned Peppers Bar were able to shot the attacker dead. Pictured an officer at the scene after the suspect was killed

Officers were reportedly 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

Police responded to calls about an active shooter in the area of East 5th Street

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.'

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.'

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.'

Hannuh said on Twitter she was at the bar at the time of the incident and had been left 'speechless and heartbroken' by the attack.

She wrote: 'We heard gunshots while on the patio...We ran for our lives and hopped a fence trampling multiple people in the process/hid anywhere we could.

'I am speechless and heartbroken and bawling my eyes out. I never expected to be in such a situation and have no words. This is the most terrible thing I've ever felt.

'There are no f****** words for this feeling. It is absolutely disgusting. My heart is in pieces for anyone inside the bar who was worsely [sic] affected by this.'

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

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

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

He added: 'He damaged our city.'

Ned Peppers Bar confirmed in an Instagram post that all its staff were safe after the massacre.

The post stated: 'All of our staff is safe and our hearts go out to everyone involved as we gather information.'

President Trump tweeted this morning about both massacres, saying: 'The FBI, local and state law enforcement are working together in El Paso and in Dayton, Ohio. Information is rapidly being accumulated in Dayton. Much has already be learned in El Paso. Law enforcement was very rapid in both instances. Updates will be given throughout the day!'

Pope Francis told a crowd gathered in St Peter's Square for the weekly Angelus blessing today that: 'I am spiritually close to the victims of the episodes of violence that have bloodied Texas, California and Ohio, in the United States, striking defenceless people.'

Ohio Govenor Mike DeWine said he and his wife are 'absolutely heartbroken' by the deadly shooting and ordered flags in the state to be lowered.

He said in a statement: We join those across Ohio and this country in offering our prayers to victims and their families.

'I commend Dayton Police and other first responders for their bravery and quick response to save lives and bring an end to this tragedy.

'I have ordered that flags in Ohio remain at half mast in honor and memory of the victims who lost their lives this morning.'

Local media reported that medics at the scene were dealing with 'walking wounded' and a triage area was been set up.

Some of the patients at the scene are said to be critically injured, with fears the death toll could rise.

Miami Valley Hospital spokeswoman Terrea Little said 16 victims have been received at the hospital, but she couldn't confirm their conditions.

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

Reports suggest 19 people have been taken to hospitals, but the exact figure has not been confirmed by authorities.

Carper said the police department has opened the Convention Center, which is near the Oregon District, for family members and friends who become separated from their loved ones.

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 26 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

Police shot the attacker dead after reports of an 'active shooter' at Ned Peppers Bar in Dayton. Pictured police at the scene

#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

Ned Peppers bar in Dayton, Ohio, where the shooting reportedly happened with as many as seven victims feared dead

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

Oregon District is a popular area and is home to a number of bars, nightclubs, art galleries and restaurants.

The reported shooting came just hours after 20 people were killed and 26 wounded at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.

Just days before, on July 28, a 19-year-old 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 United States in 2019, according to the Northeastern University mass murder database that tracks all US homicides.

That makes today'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.

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.

An eye witness caught up in the El Paso shooting posted footage on Instagram as gun shots were going off in the background. When he went into the parking lot victims could be seen being taken away on stretchers (right a man who was shot int he leg)

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, a southern Texas city with a large Hispanic population

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.