A witness of Saturday’s mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, recounted the harrowing moments after he heard shots being fired at a nearby Walmart.
Identifying himself as a member of the military with a license to carry gun, Glen Oakley told media outlets he was shopping at a Foot Locker close to the scene when he heard gunshots. He immediately readied his own firearm and headed towards the parking lot. On his way, he noticed several scared, unattended children and tried to get as many as he could to safety.
“I saw a whole bunch of kids just running around without their parents,” he said. “I was trying to pick them up, one by one, as many as I can and just run out … it was just a whole bunch of kids in there. I’m sorry, I’m shaking.
“I was just so worried about those kids, man,” he continued. “I was just trying to pick up those kids, man. I wasn’t really worried about myself … I just hope those kids are all right. That’s all I’m thinking about is the kids.”
This is Glen Oakley.
He was in the @FootLocker when the El Paso shooting happened. When he ran to leave, he saw kids in the mall without their parents, scared and alone.
So he picked up as many as he could and carried them to safety.
Focus on the heroes.#ElPasoShooting pic.twitter.com/1NofPvegjL
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) August 3, 2019
Officials said 20 people were killed from the incident Saturday, and more than two dozen others were injured. A law enforcement source told the Washington Examiner that 21-year-old Patrick Crusius was taken into custody, but police have not identified the suspect other than to say he is a 21-year-old white male from Allen, Texas.
