1 dead, 3 injured after gunman opens fire at El Paso mall food court: cops

At least one person was killed after a gunman opened fire in a Texas mall food court Wednesday, cops said.

Police said the shooting started around 5 p.m. at the Cielo Vista Mall in East El Paso. Officers said that four people, all men, were shot, one fatally.

Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The condition of the third victim was not immediately known.

Police said two men were taken into custody.

A weapon was also found at the scene.


Law enforcement members gather outside the Cielo Vista Mall
A gunman opened fire inside the food court at El Paso’s Cielo Vista Mall, police said.
REUTERS
Police officers gather at an entrance of a shopping mall, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
Police officers gather at an entrance of a shopping mall on Feb. 15, 2023.
AP/Andrés Leighton

Law enforcement agents walk in the parking lot of a shopping mall
Officers did not share a potential motive of the tragic shooting.
AP/Andrés Leighton


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Law enforcement agents walk in the parking lot of a shopping mall,
The shooting happened around 5 p.m.
AP/Andrés Leighton

Law enforcement agents walk in the parking lot of a shopping mall
Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
AP/Andrés Leighton


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Former White House official Olivia Troye said her aunt — a survivor of the 2019 Walmart massacre — was inside Cielo Vista mall when the shooting started.

“What is it going to take to enact change?!” Troye tweeted.

Officers did not provide a possible motive but said the shots immediately sparked a frenzy inside the massive mall.

“It was chaotic. People did flee. They were scared,” Sgt. Robert Gomez, who was inside when gunfire erupted, told CNN.


An ambulance arrives as law enforcement officials stand outside the Cielo Vista Mall.
At least one person was killed and three others injured.
@ThatVatoJaime via REUTERS

There was a heavy police presence outside the mall as detectives investigated the shooting.

“Thank you to all law enforcement and first responders who quickly went into action to protect their fellow Texans,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted.

The Cielo Vista Mall is located in the same shopping center as the El Paso Walmart where Patrick Crusius gunned down 23 people in a racially motivated 2019 attack.

Crusius pleaded guilty to the ghastly crime last week.

With Post wires