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"Shots Fired" At Texas Army Medical Center

by Clarissa-Jan Lim

A shooting at a VA clinic in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday afternoon, left a doctor and the shooter dead, after the latter turned the weapon on himself, said Fort Bliss Major General Stephen M. Twitty. The active-shooting incident took place at the El Paso VA Health Care System, a spokesperson for Rep. Beto O'Rourke confirmed.

The FBI is leading an active investigation, said Twitty in an evening press conference, and is currently processing witnesses. Officials said that the first call at 3:10 p.m. local time was to reports of an active shooter inside the VA clinic. The VA and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, located adjacent to the clinic, immediately went on lockdown for about an hour while authorities searched for a suspect they believed was acting alone.

El Paso police flooded to the scene, though military police and the FBI took over at around 4 p.m. Twitty said to reporters:

The alleged shooter is dead, and we have one casualty. That casualty is deceased. All other VA patients and staff are safe. This is an active crime scene, and the shooting incident is under investigation.

The names of the alleged shooter and victim were not released. KTSM reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs released a statement late Tuesday expressing its condolences:

We will continue to cooperate fully with military and civilian authorities at Beaumont Army Medical Center. The safety and continued care of our Veterans and the staff will be our focus throughout this situation.

The VA clinic will be closed on Wednesday, reported CNN. It serves the El Paso area and Fort Bliss, which houses the Army's 1st Armored Division. O'Rourke, a Democrat who has championed veteran issues, tweeted his support to the clinic staff.