Mass Shooting: 20 Dead in El Paso, Tx and Nine Dead in Dayton, Ohio

It was another deadly and bloody weekend in America.

One week after a mass shooting in Gilroy, California, the carnage continued this weekend with a mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas Walmart that killed at least 20 on Saturday morning, followed less than 24 hours later by a shooting in Dayton, Ohio entertainment district that killed at least nine.

Federal investigators in El Paso are considering hate crime charges and treating the shooting spree there, which wounded another 27 people, as an act of domestic terrorism.

The suspect in the El Paso massacre has been identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius. He posted a 2,300-word anti-immigrant manifesto minutes before the shooting started. He was apprehended by police following the shootings. (The New York Times)

In Dayton, where 27 people were wounded, the suspect was identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts, who was killed by police shortly after he opened fire. He donned a mask and body armor during the shooting and was armed with an “assault-style rifle,” according to police. Police haven’t established a motive in that shooting, but said one of the victims was his 22-year-old sister, Megan K. Betts. (The New York Times)

Hot Takes:

  • This is getting ridiculous and scary. We’re better than this and have to come up with a way to stop mass shootings.
  • While Donald Trump is worried about the border with Mexico and trade in China, Americans are being slaughtered by home-grown terrorists.
  • Where are the good guys with guns?
  • Is it time to start talking about gun control yet?