As many as 29 people have been killed and dozens more injured in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
El Paso, Texas
In El Paso, Texas, Police Chief Greg Allen said said the first reports of an active shooter were received at 10:39 local time (16:39 GMT), and law enforcement officers were on the scene within six minutes.
A 21-year-old man named by local media as Patrick Crusius walked into a Walmart supermarket wearing ear defenders and brandishing an assault-style rifle before opening fire. He killed 20 people and injured 26 more before police were able to gain control of the situation, in what became the eighth worst mass shooting in US history.
Crusius is in custody and the shooting is being investigated as a possible “hate crime” after a manifesto, reported to be written by Crusius, was found published on the internet messageboard 8Chan a few minutes before the incident. The manifesto cites the Christchurch shooting as inspiration and talks of the far-right “Great Replacement” anti-immigration theory as the reason for targeting those of Hispanic origins. The manifesto explained that the author’s hatred of immigrants predated the election of US President Donald Trump, so people should not “blame him”.
Crusius lived in Allen, Dallas, and drove about 650 miles (1,046km) east to El Paso, where the Hispanic immigrant population is higher to launch his attack. Initial research into his online profiles shows a young white male radicalised by white nationalists on internet messageboards, where mass killing and terrorism has become gamified.
Dayton, Ohio
Hours after the El Paso incident a second mass shooting that left nine people dead and at least 16 injured.
First reports of a shooting outside Ned Peppers Bar in the Oregan area of the city at about 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT), and officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. Witnesses at the scene recorded hearing rapid shots ring out as the suspect opened fire on civilians before he was shot and killed by police.
The FBI and local police have asked the public with any information about the shooting to come forward as they investigate the motive of the shooter.
If you witnessed the incident in the #OregonDistrict or have any information on the incident that would aid in the investigation, please call 937-225-6217.
— Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) August 4, 2019
The shootings took place less than a week after three people were killed and 15 injured at a food festival in California.
Republican politicians and President Trump still refuse to pass gun control legislation or limit the powers of the National Rifle Association (NRA) that works to stop lawmakers limit access to deadly weapons.
