El Paso City Rep

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 ❚ ELPASOTIMES.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

AFTERMATH OF A TRAGEDY Texas remains the state with most mass shooting deaths. Here’s how the incidents have changed the state. What happens now?

El Paso city Rep. Henry Rivera, of District 7, talks with Yolanda Tinajero, sister of Walmart shooting victim Arturo Benavides, and Benavides’ great-nieces Katelyn Armendariz, 14, center, and Meghan Armendariz, 16, as they discuss plans for a memorial. MARK LAMBIE/EL PASO TIMES

From Staff Reports El Paso Times Who stands in USA TODAY NETWORK – TEXAS the way of gun Teacher Rita Cisneros is reluctant to take a day off — even when she’s sick. control in Texas? She’s afraid that’s when a mass shooter will strike. Trish Choate “I’m not going to let them get hurt if Wichita Falls Times Record News there’s anything that I can do to help,” USA TODAY NETWORK – TEXAS she said of her students at Lotspeich El- ementary in South Texas. The National Rifle Association She has seen the fear in her first- sounds an alarm to drum up new mem- graders as they practice a mass shooter bers. lockdown drill. She comforts them and “Our rights are under attack like nev- reminds them of the steps that could er before,” the group warns on its save their lives. website. Lock the door. Cover the window. In hopes of getting Second Amend- Crouch down against the wall. Be quiet. ment enthusiasts to click the red “Join” And wait for it to be over. button and sink $45 into a membership, “It’s kind of sad this year because Mourners visit a makeshift memorial outside Santa Fe the powerful organization touts its lob- when they did the first drill, they al- High School after a 2018 mass shooting that left 10 dead. bying arm and political action commit- ready knew,” she said. “They already COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK - TEXAS tee. knew that they were supposed to be si- The NRA-Institute for Legislative lent.” Action — styled as “Tireless Defenders Cisneros’ fears are grounded in a sad Find more online of your Second Amendment Rights” — reality. and the NRA Political Victory Fund See interactive maps, read more stories, see more photos See SHOOTINGS, Page 4A and watch videos at elpasotimes.com. See GUN CONTROL, Page 2B

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TODAY’S OBITUARIES AND DEATH NOTICES Richard “Dick” Edward Johnson Name Age Town, State Death Date Arrangements *Acosta, Ignacio “Nacho” 72 El Paso 12-Oct Funeraria Del Angel Central EL PASO - Richard “Dick” Edward Johnson, Alsa, Juvenar Antonio - ElPaso --- Perches Funeral Homes. Alameda Location 78, died October 18, 2019 at Royal Estates of El Alvarez, Maria G. 86 El Paso 22-Oct Crestview Funeral Home Paso, Texas. Anchondo,Roberto 97 ElPaso 23-OctSunset FuneralHome Northeast Mr. Johnson was born in Denver, CO on August Argumedo, Jose G. - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, La Paz 16, 1941, to Glen Wade Johnson and Rose Evelyn Arreola,Alejandro - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, East Location Blades. He served in the US Army, First Cavalry Atkins, Ana Maria V. - El Paso --Dec Perches Funeral Homes, Alameda Location Division and went on to attend the University of Baldwin,Elizabeth - El Paso --- .Perches Funeral Homes. LaPaz Location Southern California where he graduated with a *Breton, Darlene “Dottie” 83 - 23-Oct Sunset Funeral Home East bachelor’s degree in business and thereafter earned Carmona, Lumberto - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West *Castle, Ellison George 67 - 23-Sep - a master’s degree in economics and finance. Mr. Chavez, Armando - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West Location Johnson was employed for years as a stock-bro- *Coats, Lucia Garcia 73 El Paso 22-Oct Sunset Funeral Home Northeast ker and commodity trader. Even in retirement, Cuellar, Gloria - ElPaso --- Perches Funeral HomesEast Location he remained an active trader and investor in the Dekle, Charles D. 95 El Paso 22-Oct Martin Funeral Home West financial markets. Mr. Johnson was also a longtime Diaz, Pablo 94 El Paso 22-OctSunset Funeral Homes-East member of Western Hills Methodist Church. Esquivel, Guillermo - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, La Paz Location Mr. Johnson is survived by a brother, Jack Felix,Rosa H. - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, Northeast Wade Johnson of El Paso, TX; a daughter, Kirsten Gibson, James Vernon - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West Location Cinquemani (Dominic) Cinquemani of Rancho Gomez,MariadelCarmen 65 El Paso 24-OctSunset Funeral Homes- East Mission Viejo, CA; several cousins, including Herrera, Virginia - El Paso --- . Perches Funeral Homes. East Location *Johnson, Richard “Dick” Edward 78 El Paso 18-Oct- Robin (Steve) Boies of Wells, NV; Randa George *Landavazo, Jeremy 20 El Paso 24-Oct Crestview Funeral Home of Emmett, ID; Steve Johnson of Farnsworth, Martell, Arturo 63 El Paso 24-Oct Sunset Funeral Home-Americas TX; Charles (Marsha) Carlson of Boulder, CO; *Martinez, Javier M. 73 El Paso 13-Oct Hillcrest Funeral Home East a niece, Andrea (Matthew) Payne of Austin, TX; Mata, Andy - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West Location and one grandson, Gavin Cinquemani of Rancho *Montgomery, Glenn D. 86 El Paso 19-Oct Funeraria Del Angel central Mission Viejo, CA. Ortega, Ernesto 86 El Paso 25-Oct Hillcrest Funeral Home East A veteran’s memorial service will be held at 11:00 Peregrino Loya, Humberto 66 El Paso 24-Oct Sunset Funeral Home - West am on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at Evergreen Quini, Isaiah 20 El Paso 24-Oct Sunset Funeral Homes- East Cemetery East. Ramirez, Jesus Jose 70 El Paso 22-Oct Sunset Funeral Homes - East *Rede, Martin M. 64 Las Cruces 08-Aug Getz Funeral Home Jeremy Landavazo Reyes, Imelda - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, Alameda Robinson III, Arturo “Poncho” 53 El Paso 26-Oct Funeraria Del Angel Central EL PASO -JeremyA. Rodriguez, Victor Manuel Cortina 70 El Paso 25-Oct Sunset Funeral Home Northeast Landavazo, 20, born 09- Romero, Hermenegildo - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes. Alameda Location 10-1999, passed 10-24- Salas, So²a 80 - --- Perches Alameda 2019. Santiago, Carmen - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West Jeremy has always been *Saylor Jr., Lloyd A. 80 El Paso 20-Oct Funeraria Del Angel Restlawn a free spirit, God loving, *Serrano, Antonio Rios 75 El Paso 23-Oct Hillcrest Funeral Home East Silva, Jose Arturo “Tury” 94 El Paso 21-Oct Funeraria Del Angel Central big hearted and strong *Slaman, Patricia Jasso 59 El Paso 15-Sep Martin Funeral Home East individual. We were Spalloni, Ugo - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, Northeast Location blessed to have him for Stimets, Esperanza - El Paso --- Perches Funeral Homes, West Location a short time, then heav- Taylor, Cheryl Yolanda 57 El Paso 16-Oct Funeraria Del Angel Restlawn en needed an angel and Vazquez, Ignacio - El Paso --- Perches FUneral Homes, West God sent for him. He had * Additional information in display obituaries a passion for cars, football, and adventure. His Obituaries appear in print and online at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ElPasoTimes motto and his tattoo were “Live For Today”.Our Ignacio “Nacho”Acosta Darlene “Dottie” Ellison George memories of him will always bring a smile. The Breton Castle fact that he’s no longer here, will always cause us EL PASO - Ignacio“Na- pain yet he’ll be forever in our hearts until we cho”Acosta, Jr. 72, passed Darlene “Dottie” Ellison George Cas- meet again. He is survived by his mother,Valerie away October 12, 2019. Breton, 83, left us on tle, 67, passed away Martinez, step dad, Jose Marin, father, Anthony A beloved son, father, October 23, 2019, leav- September 23, 2019. Landavazo, step mom, Patricia Landavazo, sister, brother, grandfather, un- ingahugevoidinall Preceded in death by Serenity Landavazo, brothers, Jose Albert Almaraz, cle and friend. He will that knew and loved his parents Emma Peg- Armani, Dominic, and Nathaniel, Grandparents, be greatly missed by all her. She warmed the gy and Albert Castle. R.Yoli Olivares, and Margie and Efren Landavazo. the lives that he touched. hearts of many as a Brothers,Fred, and We all love you Jeremy. Until we see you again. Nacho was a graduate of beloved Wife, Mother, Ronnie,family and Rest in Peace our angel in heaven. Burges High School and Grandmother, Great friends wish to thank attended UTEP. He had Grandmother, Sister, each and all of you for a 40-year career as a radio Aunt, Great Aunt and the good memories in and TV writer, producer, and recording engineer. Friend. Her greatest joy his life. He was co-founder of KXCR-FM and the Texas in life was in raising her Service is planned: Jazz Festival in El Paso and served as executive beautiful family and First Christian Church, producer for hundreds of nationally-distribut- loving her husband un- 901 Arizona Ave., El ed news and information programs. Nacho is conditionally. Dottie’s Paso, Texas on October survived by his mother Aurora Acosta, son Chris presence among peo- 30, 2 PM. (wife Claudia), brother Ricardo (wife Norma), ple, even total strang- sister Aurora, grandchildren Christopher, Caity ers, left them so happy and Cylee, nephews Aaron and Danny Madrid, to have known her. She Lucia Garcia Coats and nieces Sarah and Casey Acosta. Visitation, never knew a strang- rosary, and services will be on Thursday, October er. Dottie is survived EL PASO - Lucia Garcia 31st at 9:00am at Funeraria Del Angel Central by her husband Bob Coats, entered the gates with a reception to follow. married 64 years and of her heavenly home on Tuesday, October 22, MomtosonRick(San- Javier M. Martinez dy), daughters Karen 2019 at the age of 73. (Steve) Leslie (Dale) She was a loving daugh- EL PASO -Bornon and Cindy (Rick). ter, wife, mother, grand- September 14, 1946 in In Memoriam She was also Mimi to mother, and great grand- Torreon, Coah., Mexi- 8 grandchildren, 11 mother. She is proceeded co he was 73 years old In Loving Memory Of great grandchildren in death by her parents when he passed away FLORENCE V. HOLGUIN and Aunt Dot to many mother Gudelia Garcia on October 13, 2019. 06/20/1940 - 10/28/2015 nieces and nephews. Gonzalez and father Le- Beloved father, hus- Her memorial service andro Gonzalez, husband Phillips Samuel Coats band, brother, grand- will be held at Sunset Sr., and son Phillip Coats. She leaves behind her father and uncle. Me- Funeral Home East daughters; Norma Gonzalez, Linda Mandes, son morial service will on October 27th from Phillips Samuel Coats Jr., 13 grandchildren and 6 take place at Hillcrest 10-2 with a private great grandchildren and sister Eduarda Quezada Funeral Home-Car- graveside service at Ft Garcia.Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm olina (915)598-3332 Bliss National Ceme- with a Vigil/Rosary at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Octo- on Tuesday, October tery at a later date. Dot- ber 29, 2019 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast, 29, 2019 from 8:00am tie’slovelivesoninour 4631 Hondo Pass Drive. Scripture Service will to 10:15am with in- hearts forever. begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 30, termenttofollowat 2019 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Com- 11:00am in Ft. Bliss mittal Service to follow at 11:00 am on Wednesday, National Cemetery. October 30, 2019 at Fort Bliss National Ceme- It has only been 4 years but it seems like a lifetime. The Services entrusted to aching just does not stop. We all miss you dearly. tery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Hillcrest Funeral Home Fourth year anniversary mass St. Pius X on Sunday, Northeast. Please visit our online registry book a “Dignity” memorial October 27 at 7 a.m. at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net. provider. All our love and prayers Frank, Venessa, Richard, Marc (Tony), Terry, and Carlos

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Continued from Page 1A

In a 28-day span in August, mass shooters in El Paso and Odessa cement- ed Texas’ status as the state with the most mass shooting deaths dating back to when a former Marine gunned down 14 people from a sniper’s nest in the Uni- versity of Texas tower on Aug. 1, 1966. In recent years, mass shooters have ended 69 innocent lives in Odessa, El Paso, Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe and Dallas. Three of the shooters also were killed. As to what defines a mass shooting, in a 2015 study, the Congressional Re- search Service said FBI criminal profil- ers use “mass murder” for incidents in which “four or more victims are mur- dered — not including (the offenders) — within one event, and in one or more geographical locations relatively near one another.” The report used “mass shooting” for such cases in which firearms were used. This report excludes mass shootings where domestic violence was the only Chairs with flowers are placed in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in 2017 as a memorial to honor motivation and shootouts between ci- those who died in a mass shooting at the church. Twenty five people were killed including a pregnant woman. vilians. COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS And mass shootings are impacting Texas life in profound ways. It’s changing how Texans care for land-Odessa area in the Aug. 31 killing their children, protect their classrooms, spree that would leave seven dead and practice their faith, police their neigh- more than two dozen injured still was on borhoods and equip their ambulances the loose when Levario set in motion and emergency rooms. Mass shooters plans to lock down the hospital. also color how ordinary citizens look at Only after the doors were firmly se- their personal safety. The killers have cured did Levario feel the shock and fear devastated generations of Texas fam- welling up inside her. ilies. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s here,’ ” Houston police Chief Art Acevedo re- the 10-year Navy veteran said. called the bloodshed, fear, anger and Dr. Rohith Saravanan had only been sadness he encountered when he chief medical officer at Odessa Regional stepped onto the grounds of Santa Fe for three months when the shooting High School on May 18, 2018. took place. He was visiting family in Eight students and two teachers lay Austin that Saturday but immediately dead from gunfire; 13 others were went to work directing the emergency wounded. response remotely. Acevedo had seen the effects of “It was a hard call to take,” Saravanan shootouts by armed gangs and random said. “The first process was doing the violence during a 30-year career that lockdown. Because it was the holiday has taken him from California to Austin Stephen Willeford is hailed as a hero for helping to bring down the shooter who weekend, it made that very hard. We did to Houston. killed 25 people at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. have an administrator in town, but the “I had never been at a mass shooting COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS majority of our administrative team was at a school and witnessed firsthand the out of town visiting family.” angst that incident has on a communi- The shooting took place on Labor Day ty,” Acevedo said. “You see it on first re- weekend. sponders’ faces, on the staff, on the fac- Six people arrived at Odessa Regional ulty, the administration.” with injuries related to the mass shoot- With each mass shooting, Texans ing; four eventually were sent home, grieve. while two were admitted to the hospital As a parent, Butch Pool’s heart sinks — one in critical condition. a little deeper. As the number of mass shootings Pool can’t find the words to talk with around the country began to climb, Sa- his 9-year-old son about why someone ravanan said he noticed a change in the would want to kill so many people, in- way hospitals trained staff. cluding children. “A lot of hospitals who have gone “That’s the inner debate,” said Pool, through things like this before — they’ve who lives in Corpus Christi and owns a changed over time. They’re more pre- seafood company. “Do you put that kind pared. For us? We have to prepare more. of fear in them versus safety in an event We have to drill more. We do have reg- that’s probably extremely unlikely to ular disaster type of drills but not mass happen?” shooting drills.” Pool thinks the focus in Texas should Surgeon Dr. Lillian Liao, Pediatric Soon after the shooting, University be not just on increasing security but on Trauma and Burn Program director at Pastor Mike Clements of First Baptist Medical Center of El Paso staff crafted a enforcing gun laws, universal back- University Hospital in San Antonio, Church was among the first clergy banner of support to send to Odessa Re- ground checks and addressing mental attended to patients shot at the First leaders to arrive in Sutherland Springs gional — Texas’ newest mass shooting illness to curb mass shootings. Baptist Church. after the 2017 mass shooting that took club member. “It’s almost like we’re on defense ver- RACHEL DENNY CLOW/USA TODAY the lives of 25 plus an unborn child. sus on offense,” Pool said. NETWORK-TEXAS COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS Mass shooters have turned schools into security zones Mass shootings are ‘a public health crisis’ ation across the country is tragic,” Liao “When people die, they die of hemor- A lockdown in October at El Paso’s said. rhage,” she said. “And if we can slow Eastwood Knolls International School Dr. Lillian Liao is part of a club she But Liao and others in the American down this hemorrhage, then we can buy came only two months after the Wal- never wanted to join. Recalling the hor- College of Surgeons are doing more than them time to get to the hospital alive.” mart shooting. Tensions were high at rific initiation two years ago still brings simply wringing their hands. And they advocate for more “Stop the the school for grades kindergarten her to tears. And, she said, it probably They are focusing on how they can Bleed” training classes. The classes are through eighth. always will. save lives moving forward. First, Liao part of a Texas and nationwide cam- It wasn’t a drill. A man with a BB gun Liao, a pediatric trauma surgeon at said, is “primary prevention.” This in- paign to teach bystanders how to act was arrested nearby after windows on a University Hospital in San Antonio, pro- cludes broad, long-term concerns such quickly to stop rapid blood loss due to an home were broken. A spokesperson for vided emergency care Nov. 5, 2017, as firearm safety, health care research injury. the school district said there was a sus- when nine people bleeding from the and mental health counseling. “Someone can bleed to death in as lit- pected home invasion nearby and the wounds inflicted by a mass shooter’s ri- “It’s not just a one-sided discussion tle as five minutes,” Liao said. “We have school was placed on lock down, but fle at First Baptist Church of Sutherland on firearms,” she said. “It is also about a ‘Stop the Bleed’ class pretty much ev- they were soon given the all clear. Springs were rushed to University’s mental health. It is also about support- ery day now. Our group has gone back to John Humphreys, Eastwood Knolls’ emergency room 45 miles away. ing the community. There are multiple Sutherland Springs to teach the church band director, started yelling as loud as Three of the wounded were children. things that we need to do as a society to ‘Stop the Bleed.’ It helps us because we he could for people to get inside. Stu- Liao had to pronounce a girl dead after prevent (mass shootings) from happen- feel like we’re doing something to pre- dents were on their way out of the build- she and her team couldn’t save her. Emi- ing.” vent maybe a death the next time.” ing and parents were picking them up. ly Garcia was 7. For secondary prevention, Liao said, As the nurse supervisor at Odessa He gathered the kids, their parents and “I’m sorry,” she said, pausing to col- more whole blood units have been Regional Medical Center, Mariza Leva- other teachers. lect her emotions. “It’s been a couple of placed in EMS vehicles — both ambu- rio knows her first responsibility is to Many of the children trembled and years.” lances and air carriers around a 54,000- protect her patients. cried, Humphreys said. Later, she added, “I’m probably going square-mile radius in South Texas. The gunman who terrified the Mid- “I think students realized this might to cry about it 10 years from now.” have been a real deal,” said Humphreys, Although she treats far more patients who has been at Eastwood Knolls for 11 injured in car crashes, Liao said mass years. During the lockdown, he added, shootings fall into a category of their students were quiet and comforting own. The American College of Surgeons, each other until the all-clear was given. she said, calls the bloodshed inflicted by Mass shooters have turned schools mass shooters nationwide “a public into security zones. Security cameras health crisis.” are commonplace on many campuses, The horrific aftermath of mass shoot- and sophisticated security features of- ings has led to a support system in Tex- ten are incorporated into the architec- as’ and America’s trauma units. ture of new school buildings. After the Aug. 3 mass shooting at a Some campuses have security proto- Walmart in El Paso, where 22 people cols so strict parents are not allowed to were killed and 25 were injured, Univer- walk their children to class. sity Medical Center of El Paso received On public college campuses, stu- banners of support from other hospital dents who are 21 and older with a license staffs. to carry can bring their handguns to lec- A wall of the hospital’s cafeteria was ture halls and dorms. decorated with banners from the Uni- In the tightly knit West Texas com- versity of Colorado Anschutz Medical munity of Christoval, school Superin- Campus, the hospital that cared for vic- tendent David Walker said lockdown tims of two Colorado mass shootings, drills and high-tech security features and from Orlando Regional Medical alone won’t protect his district’s 550 Center, which cared for survivors of the People arrive at an Odessa hospital on Aug. 31 after a mass shooting left seven students and 81 employees. Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida. dead and several more injured. COURTNEY SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS “The senselessness of the entire situ- Continued on Page 5A ELPASOTIMES.COM ❚ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 ❚ 5A

Continued from Page 4A swer their questions.” For Clements, 61, it was the beginning Christoval, about 20 miles from San of a long and blurry week where he’d Angelo, the nearest city and hospital, help officiate several funerals, including was the second school district in Texas one for a family that lost three genera- to allow armed staff members after the tions and nine relatives to gunfire in a 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elemen- house of worship. tary in Connecticut that killed 26. Today, it is legal to carry a concealed “We were the first district to have weapon into a Texas church. long guns and the first to have emergen- After Sutherland Springs, Clements cy trauma equipment,” Walker said. knew he had to protect his church in the The community’s two campuses town of 6,500. Some of his fellow rural have emergency trauma kits and multi- pastors, he said, opted to have a con- casualty bags designed for active shoot- spicuous police presence for Sunday er situations. Employees have access to services. He opted for a lower-key re- tourniquets, compression gauze, chest sponse. decompression needles, emergency tra- He now has “a security team”: Greet- cheotomy kits and more. ers in the parking lot welcome worship- “We have emergency kits in every ers to Sunday services. Also, people at classroom, in every vehicle, and in every each service discreetly watch for any- office that can treat multiple people,” thing out of the ordinary, he said. “We Walker said. didn’t have that before.” “Every time we don’t learn something And some people in his church come from these incidents, like what hap- to worship armed. pened in El Paso or Odessa, it means “I’m fine with it,” he said. children died in vain,” he said. “And Most major religions in Texas leave shame on us for not doing something the decision on allowing guns to church about it. I wouldn’t be able to live with leaders at the local level. myself knowing we could have done Pastor Frank Pomeroy of First Baptist something but didn’t.” Church of Sutherland Springs often car- ries his holstered pistol on his hip at For police, change in mindset church. He and his wife were away on takes toll business when the gunman attacked. His 14-year-old daughter was among The frequency of mass shootings has those killed. changed policing in Texas. And, in some “Losing your daughter and 25 others, cases, it has changed the lives and ca- doing 26 funerals in two weeks, it’s go- reers of officers, who often are targets. ing to play a part in absolutely every as- In the Odessa shooting, three officers pect of the rest of your life,” he recalled from three different agencies were nearly two years later. “I cherish per- wounded before the gunman was killed sonal relationships and life in general outside a movie theater. All three sur- much more than I used to. It’s not that I vived the attack by a man with a history Rita Cisneros, a first grade teacher at didn’t care before. I did. But now I see of threatening to kill officers. Lotspeich Elementary School in that life is so fleeting.” Mass shooters in Texas aren’t swayed Greg Abbott has been governor of Robstown, worries for the safety of Pomeroy, 53, resists calls for more by the state’s reputation as being tough Texas since 2015 and seen five mass her students. PHOTOS BY COURTNEY gun regulation and his Facebook page is on crime. shootings. SACCO/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS replete with posts supporting the Sec- “It’s forced us to evolve our training. ond Amendment, saying self-defense is It’s forced us to evolve our mindset,” not at odds with Christian teaching. said Acevedo, the Houston police chief. “The days of counting on others to In an active shooting, waiting for “When you know people are dying, when there’s protect you (are) growing slim,” he said. backup often isn’t an option. gunfire, you run towards it and engage the subject.” Pastor Michael Grady also faced the “When you know people are dying, horror of a mass shooting. His daughter when there’s gunfire, you run towards it Art Acevedo, Houston police chief was hit by bullets from the AK-47-style and engage the subject,” Acevedo said. weapon used in the El Paso Walmart at- That change in mindset takes a toll. tack. “Our officers are much more at risk,” “I just want to prepare myself for the Springs plumber who ran barefoot car- Grady’s wife, Jeneverlyn, was shop- Acevedo said. “They end up suffering worst,” said McConnell. rying an AR-15 from his house across the ping at a nearby Dillard’s while daughter from post-traumatic stress injuries. I Instructor Michael Cargill, a staunch street from the First Baptist Church Michelle was at Walmart. His wife don’t call them ‘disorders’ because it’s defender of the Second Amendment, when he heard gunfire. phoned him, saying Michelle was hurt not like they did something wrong. It’s explained Texas’ firearm laws and how Yelling a simple “Hey!” Willeford and he needed to get to the shopping an injury caused by the trauma of hav- to properly use a handgun during the drew the gunman’s fire. The gunman center immediately. When he arrived, ing to see people suffering. class at Central Texas Gun Works in missed, but Willeford did not. He fired “it was sort of like I picture a war zone,” “It impacts their psyche,” he said. “It Austin. one round into the man’s side, between he said. impacts their emotions.” He also provided a dose of reality: the plates of body armor protecting his His 33-year-old daughter was shot Senior Cpl. Terrance Hopkins of the Never draw your weapon unless you’re torso and back. three times but survived. Since the Dallas Police Department was a tactical fully prepared to use it. A second round hit high on the man’s shooting, she has undergone several planner assigned to the downtown com- “That is your last option,” Cargill leg. When the killer clambered into his surgeries and continues physical thera- mand post in July 2016 during a peace- said. “Once you pull out that gun and vehicle to speed from the church, Wille- py. ful Black Lives Matter protest. use it, your life is going to change.” ford fired once more, shattering the ve- “Michelle is doing better each day,” he The peace was shattered when an Elvin Randell, 64, got the message. hicle’s rear window. said. Army reservist armed with an AK-47- “It would be the worst day of my life if The gunman ultimately killed him- Grady, 65 and the pastor of Prince of style rifle and a semiautomatic handgun I ever had to pull a gun out and shoot self on a remote Texas roadway. Peace Christian Fellowship, is calling for opened fire. Before the gunman was somebody,” he said. Willeford’s story has been told and “common sense” measures to curb gun killed by an explosives-carrying police But if he were confronted by a mass retold. He uses his fame to advocate for violence. He was invited to the Demo- robot, five officers were shot to death. shooter, Randell said, he wouldn’t hes- gun rights. He’s met lawmakers and the cratic presidential debate in Houston Nine other officers were hit by gunfire itate to return fire. president. He spoke at the National Rifle weeks after the shooting to drive that and two civilians were wounded. Laura King, 21, was among many in Association’s annual convention and point home. The attack is a tragic reminder law the class who agreed. participated in Second Amendment “When I saw Michelle and these oth- enforcement can never let its guard “I think it’s your duty to defend peo- gatherings at the Texas Capitol. er victims get shot, my prayer was, ‘God, down. ple who can’t defend themselves,” she In an interview with the USA TODAY call your people to rise up in this city and “We’re there for a visual presence/ said. Network, the former NRA firearms in- do something about this,’ ” he said. deterrent,” said Hopkins, a 29-year law Karlyn Ellis, a 46-year-old Realtor, structor said he did what any trained enforcement veteran and president of wasn’t as confident. She was taking the good guy with a gun would. A governor in the national the Black Police Association of Greater class but admitted guns scare her. “I used this rifle to defend my com- spotlight Dallas. “But you cannot get lackadaisi- “My husband has always believed we munity,” he said during a demonstration cal, thinking that just because you’re should have a gun in the house,” Ellis at the Texas Capitol, an evidence tag Since taking office in January 2015, there, it won’t happen.” said. “And I’m terrified of it.” still attached to his AR-15 slung over his Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has led his state She choked up at the prospect of shoulder. in grief through more deaths by mass Gun owner: ‘I just want to prepare shooting at someone, even in self-de- Willeford said his actions probably shooters in his home state than any oth- myself for the worst’ fense. won’t prevent mass violence. er American governor. “This is all very stressful,” she said, “I don’t think it’s a deterrent,” he said. Seven months before the first deadly Dana McConnell grew up in a gun- fighting tears. “These people want to die, and they mass shooting on his watch, Abbott owning household with a father who in- When it was her turn to shoot, Ellis want to kill as many folks as they can posted a tweet about Texas slipping into stilled in him an abiding respect for a was hesitant. James, her husband of al- before they do.” second place among the states in total firearm’s power. He shot his first gun - a most 20 years, tried to break the tension Since his exchange of gunfire, new gun sales. rifle - when he was 10 years old outside with humor. mass shooters have unleashed massa- “I’m EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in na- his uncle’s house in Bastrop County. “You don’t get a margarita unless you cres in three other Texas cities. tion for new gun purchases, behind “My dad every Sunday would take go,” he said. CALIFORNIA,” he said in the social out his revolver and clean it and talk to Later, she stepped up to the firing Some worshippers have guns posting during the lunch hour of Oct. 28, us about it,” said McConnell, an Austin line, clutched her .22-caliber semiauto- in church 2015. “Let’s pick up the pace Texans.” Realtor. “It was never ‘I’m going to pick it matic pistol with both hands and aimed At the time he posted it, Abbott’s up and go shoot anybody.’ It was a thing at the blue, humanlike silhouette. Pastor Mike Clements had finished tweet seemed to make perfect political of respect and honor and safety, always. She hit the target and passed the the Sunday service at Floresville’s First sense for a Texas governor. These days, it just doesn’t seem like class, but isn’t going to go through with Baptist Church when he heard of the Guns have been woven into the fabric that’s there anymore.” getting her license to carry. shooting in Sutherland Springs. He of Texas since taming of the frontier. On a Saturday in September with the “I’ve realized that I don’t think the rushed to Connally Memorial Medical Guns put food on the pioneers’ tables, mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa answer is arming more people with Center in Floresville, where many of the conquered the Comanches and de- still in the headlines, McConnell helped more guns,” she said. wounded were taken. fended the Alamo. organize a group of six other real estate He wasn’t prepared for what he saw. Months earlier, he was elected by a professionals to take the class needed to The good guy with a gun He said he drew strength not only from landslide on a platform that included a qualify for a license to carry. God, but from the doctors and nurses stout defense of the Second Amend- Some in the group, which totaled Stephen Willeford put a face to the working to save lives. ment. Like-minded Republicans con- about 40, believed if they were armed, mantra long invoked by gun rights ac- “I said I’ve got to do the same thing. I trolled both houses of the Legislature they’d be able to stand up to a shooter. tivists: “Only a good guy with a gun can can’t break down,” the pastor of 20 years and all statewide judgeships. Others admitted they’d be scared wit- stop a bad guy with a gun.” said. “I’ve got to be strong so I can try to less. Willeford, 57, is the Sutherland comfort them, pray with them, try to an- Continued to Page 6A

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Continued from Page 5A he must console Texans statewide or in one-on-one settings. But nearly a year into his second “He draws upon his own tragedy that term, mass shootings have come to de- left him in a wheelchair at an early age fine Abbott’s tenure. Within hours after to help comfort and console during diffi- the shootings, Abbott rearranged his cult times,” Wittman said. “The gover- schedule to travel to each city and meet nor understands the need for compas- with local elected officials and law en- sion, but also the need for urgency and forcement. action in order to prevent future trage- He made phone calls to apprise then- dies from taking place.” President Barack Obama after the July And there is evidence Texas’ storied 2016 shootings in Dallas of the situation affinity for guns is evolving. on the ground. In the shootings since, he Instead of tools for self-protection made the same calls to President Don- and survival, many modern Texans look ald Trump. at them simply as items to be feared, Starting at dawn the Monday after said longtime Austin political consult- the Sutherland Springs shooting, the ant Bill Miller. governor appeared on nearly all net- “The people that own guns, and I work and cable news outlets to share his damn sure own them, don’t want to give state’s shock and grief with the nation. them up,” he said. “But those who don’t Later in the week, he accompanied Vice owns guns, don’t shoot guns and never President Mike Pence to the communi- have, they’re afraid.” ty’s memorial service. It’s probably too soon to tell how the Later, he would accompany Trump as After the mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso on Aug. 3, University Medical mass shootings on Abbott’s watch will he met with survivors in El Paso. Center of El Paso received banners of support from other U.S. hospitals in shape his legacy over the long haul, said After Santa Fe and again after El Pa- communities targeted by mass shooters. TIM ARCHULETA/EL PASO TIMES Brandon Rottinghaus, a political sci- so, Abbott convened roundtable discus- ence professor at the University of sions with experts and survivors but Houston. Much depends on his ability to consensus on how to prevent or even re- craft measures that deal with mass vio- duce the likelihood of future shootings lence without regard for the political remains elusive. fallout, he said. Abbott has issued a list of executive “Part of a governor’s legacy is wheth- orders aimed largely at bolstering the er they find a way to put aside partisan law enforcement response when signs politics at times of crisis,” Rottinghaus indicate people who might pose a public said. “The question is, has Governor Ab- threat are reported to authorities. bott done that successfully?” The orders, which seek to close gaps While lawmakers struggle to balance in law enforcement procedures, do not gun rights with actions to curb mass make specific recommendations to fur- shootings, Texans are going about their ther limit access to weapons. lives — many preparing for the next After several verbal requests, the time. USA TODAY Network has made a writ- From carrying a weapon in the hope ten request for an interview with Abbott of stopping a mass shooter to learning to discuss how the spate of mass shoot- how to treat gunshot wounds, everyday ings on his watch has elevated his job to Texans are the new first responders. include being the state’s consoler-in- “Stop the Bleed” training classes are Bill Vallie will be there to care for the chief and what specific recommenda- part of a Texas and nationwide victims of the next mass shooting and tions he plans to present to the Legisla- Yasmine Holguin, 15, remembers her campaign to teach bystanders how to their grieving families. ture to minimize the chances of future friend Leilah Hernandez during a act quickly to stop rapid blood loss As regional manager of the Legacy mass shootings in Texas. candlelight vigil for her in Odessa on due to an injury, including a gun shot Funeral Group, he’s provided comfort Spokesman John Wittman said Ab- Sept. 2. Leilah, 15, was the youngest wound. after mass shootings and sees the fu- bott’s schedule has been full in recent victim in the shooting spree that COLIN MURPHEY/USA TODAY NETWORK-TEXAS neral business as the “hidden first re- weeks, including a weeklong visit to claimed sevent lives. sponders.” South Korea to explore trade initiatives. RONALD W. ERDRICH/USA TODAY Funeral homes offer comfort to Abbott has not ruled out an interview, NETWORK-TEXAS Pence just days after the shootings, Ab- wounded communities. They play a key Wittman said, but could not commit to a bott said he had just met with Kris role in the grieving process, sometimes specific time. Workman, whose gunshot wounds to offering their services for free, as was The spokesman did acknowledge his back inflicted the same damage to done in El Paso. that the number of shootings and the in times of triumph and times of crisis,” his spine that left Abbott paralyzed “We come in and take care of all the number of dead and wounded have had Wittman said. when a tree fell on him when he was 26. victims,” Vallie said. a profound effect on Abbott and “When tragedy strikes Texas, the “I told Kris’ mom I was proud to meet Reporting by John C Moritz and Elea- changed the public’s expectations on governor responds to the needs of vic- another future governor of the state of nor Dearman, Austin Bureau USA TO- how a Texas governor must respond to tims and communities.” Texas,” Abbott said at the vigil. DAY NETWORK; John Tufts in San Ange- tragedy. At the community prayer vigil for Wittman said the governor’s per- lo, Vicky Camarillo in Corpus Christi, “Governor Abbott was elected to lead Sutherland Springs he attended with sonal history colors his response when and Trish Choate in Wichita Falls.

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