While Democrats continue to push for restricting Americans’ Second Amendment rights, one man used his right to self-defense to save lives during a shooting at a mall in El Paso, Texas.
A citizen legally carrying a firearm was able to shoot the 16-year-old suspect, who killed one person and injured three others after he opened fire inside the Cielo Vista Mall.
According to the El Paso Police Department, 32-year-old Emanuel Duran shot the teenager suspected of killing 17-year-old Angeles Zaragoza. Police have confirmed that Duran is a “Licensed to Carry Holder.”
In a press release about the shooting, the police department said that the incident began during a confrontation in the food court area between two groups of people, which “escalated into a physical fight” in which the suspect ultimately drew his gun and shot several people.
Press Release: Investigation Continues on Shooting at Cielo Vista Mall pic.twitter.com/LvabE4IzMO
— EL PASO POLICE DEPT (@EPPOLICE) February 18, 2023
The suspect allegedly began to run away after the shooting, while continuing to point his gun at innocent bystanders. Duran was one of these bystanders, and responded to the situation by drawing his handgun and wounding the shooter.
“As soon as the shooting ended, the 16-year-old suspect began to run and was pointing the gun toward the direction of bystanders, including 32-year-old Emanuel Duran, a Licensed to Carry Holder. As the suspect ran toward Duran and bystanders, Duran drew his handgun and shot the suspect,” the police department’s statement read.
After shooting the suspect, Duran — along with an off-duty El Paso police officer who arrived after the shooting — rendered aid to the shooter and the people he had injured. According to officials, the suspect is currently in stable condition.
Local news outlet KTSM reported that the suspect has not been named because of his age, but his wounded victims have been identified as a 17-year-old Hispanic male, a 20-year-old Hispanic male and a 15-year-old boy.
“It’s always concerning especially when a 16-year-old has a stolen handgun and fires a weapon inside a very crowded mall. It’s very concerning, it’s very disturbing actually,” El Paso police Sergeant Robert Gomez said.
The investigation is reportedly ongoing, and charges are currently pending against the suspected shooter.
