Ray Holgin witnessed the shooting and told CBS News that he heard at least 10 gunshots as he prepared to enter the Walmart.
At least 18 people are dead in a shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, according to multiple reports.
Officers arrived at the scene Saturday morning local time, initially responding to reports of "multiple shooters" in the area of the Walmart and Cielo Vista Mall. Police said one person, a white male in his 20s, is in custody. He was apprehended without incident.
Miranda Salas told KTSM in El Paso that she was doing back-to-school shopping at Journey's at the mall when suddenly the store manager told them to take shelter in the back of the store.
"I've never been so scared in my life," Salas said. "... They told us not to stop and to keep going."
El Paso Police said there were "multiple fatalities," though police did not provide details on how many were killed or the extent of any injuries. Police said most of the victims were shot at the Walmart.
CBS News reported that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that up to 20 were killed, though he was not certain of the exact number. Police told the outlet at least 18 were dead.
Multiple people were transported to area hospitals for treatment. According to one hospital spokesperson, the injured included a 4-month-old baby.
On Twitter, police urgently called for blood donors.
On CNN, Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, said she couldn't confirm how many had died in the shooting but called the number "shocking."
A photo obtained by KTSM appeared to show a man carrying a rifle into the Walmart, wearing some sort of earmuffs over his ears.
Ray Holgin witnessed the shooting and told CBS News that he heard at least 10 gunshots as he prepared to enter the Walmart.
Another witness, Vanessa Saenz, told The Washington Post that she was parking outside the Walmart with her mother and son when she heard what she thought was fireworks.
She said she turned and saw a man get shot and a woman sprinting past him.
“My mom yelled, ‘Just go! Speed and just go!’ but of course there were people trying to dodge the bullets and running through the parking lot,” said Saenz.
Other witnesses said that good Samaritans in the parking lot loaded the injured into their cars and drove them to nearby hospitals for help.
Authorities are asking those seeking to be reunited with loved ones to go to MacArthur Elementary-Intermediate School in El Paso.
Police said they have ruled out the possibility of multiple shooters and stressed there was no threat of imminent danger.
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