El Paso gunman Patrick Crusius got lost and only carried out shooting at Walmart supermarket ‘because he was hungry’ – The Sun

TWISTED Patrick Crusius got lost in El Paso and only headed to a local Walmart store because he was hungry, claims the city’s police chief.

Cops in Texas now believe the cold-blooded gunman calmly ate before the supermarket murder massacre which left 22 dead and dozens more injured.

“He took about 10 to 11 hours travelling from his home (in Allen, Texas) to El Paso’’ on Saturday morning, the chief told reporters of Crusius.

“As soon as he got here, he was lost in a neighbourhood. After that, he found his way to the Walmart because we understand he was hungry.

"That’s about as far as I can go without getting into too much detail.’’

Asked if Walmart was always the 21-year-old's target, the chief said, “No, he, I can’t make comment on that directly. Again, that’s part of the investigation.’’

Allen, questioned whether Crusius ate before firing his AK-47-style assault rifle into the busy store, said: “That’s what we suspect he did right now.’’

Another law-enforcement source told ABC News Crusius had cased the popular store without his weapon before opening fire on shoppers inside.

Meanwhile, a former classmate told The Sun Online that she remembered Crusius as “the nerdy quiet kid” who barely spoke to anyone.

Others have revealed he was a socially awkward and a loner who was often bullied, reports the DailyMail.com.

Youssef Badawi, 20, was friends with Crusius from elementary school and claimed the oddball once tried to spread a rumour he (Badawi)  had joined the Taliban after visiting family in Egypt.

Former classmate Tristan Rutkoske, 20, who now works at a waiter in the Dallas area, added: "From the moment I met him I knew he was a tad weird, he was awkward in social situations.

"He was soulless, he lacked emotion, you couldn't see any feeling in his eyes, he was an empty vessel."

Crusius murdered at least 22 people and wounded 26 others – including a four month old baby – in a cowardly attack at a supermarket in El Paso on Saturday.

Just before 11am local time on Saturday (6pm BST) he stormed through the front entrance of the shop and opened fire.

Details of the victims later emerged – including a hero mum who was gunned down as she protected her baby during the 20-minute shooting spree.

Jordan Anchondo, 25, was fatally shot while holding her two-month-old son, her sister told reporters.

Two more deaths were announced by El Paso police and Del Sol Medical Center on Monday, bringing the death toll to 22.

One died overnight and the other died Monday morning.

"Unfortunately these wounds have been devastating and major, and we are deeply saddened to be here today to have to tell you that two patients have passed," said Dr Stephen Flaherty, the hospital's trauma medical director.

"We are truly heartbroken to be here to have to report this."

Crusius has been chatty with investigators — yet shown no remorse for his heinous actions, authorities said.

A police official told CNN that the twisted young man, who authorities believe posted a rambling, online, anti-immigrant “manifesto’’ 20 minutes before the shooting, “had a stone-cold look when he was arrested.

“It was nothing short of evil,’’ the source said. “It was a look I’d never seen before, and I’ve been on this force for 31 years.”

Governor Greg Abbott called the killing spree in the Texas border city "one of the most deadly days in the history of Texas."

Donald Trump later blamed "mental illness" for the massacre in Texas and another in Ohio over the weekend that left 29 people dead.

The president said the two warped gunmen were "very, very seriously mentally ill" – as the White House hit back at critics blaming him.

Source: Read Full Article