Mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, multiple fatalities reported

UPDATE: New reports from law enforcement have confirmed that at least 20 are now dead and 26 are injured. This number may fluctuate as new reports come in or if some of the injured succumb to their wounds.

1 suspect is in custody. A second was also arrested, but it is not known if this person was in anyway involved in the shooting.

The suspect has been identified as a white 21-year-old male from the Dallas area.

Security footage shows that the suspect appears to be wielding an AK47 and wearing ear protection.

Video acquired by CNN shows people fearfully fleeing the scene of the shopping center.

Police have warned citizens via Twitter to stay away from the area surrounding Cielo Vista Mall and are currently on scene conducting investigations and attempting to deescalate the situation.

Three employees have taken refuge in a nearby Landry’s Seafood house and are now out of harms way, reports CNN.

“We never thought it would be so close to us this time. You see on the news all the time, but you don’t think it could happen here until it does.” restaurant manager Oscar Collazo told CNN.

Shops in the area are now on lock down and Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas has left an “hour into a town hall meeting at Coronado High School 15 miles from the mall.”

“FBI crews are coordinating with El Paso police to respond to the incident, and Texas Governor Greg Abott tweeted Saturday afternoon that the Texas Dept. of Public Safety would be assisting local law enforcement “to bring this tragedy to the swiftest possible conclusion,” reports Global News.

This is breaking news and will be updated.