Texas Reacts To Greenville Shootings

Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that officials were working "aggressively" to respond to a shooting in Greenville, Texas, that left two people dead. 

"Texas Rangers & Texas Dept. of Public Safety are working aggressively with local & federal officials to respond to the #TexasAMCommerce shooting," Abbott wrote using his personal Twitter account.

"Some misinformation will be clarified," he added without elaborating.

Late Saturday, a shooter opened fire during a crowded party near Greenville. At least two people were killed and 12 others were injured, local authorities said.

Among the injured were four current Texas A&M University-Commerce students, according to a statement issued by the university's president, Mark Rudin. 

"There is a tremendous amount of misinformation revolving around this off-campus event," Rudin said in the statement, which the university shared on Facebook.  

"At this time, we can confirm four of our current students were treated and released from local hospitals. We are currently reaching out to these four affected students. We will continue to monitor this situation."

In a Facebook comment to the same post, the university emphasized that there were no indications that the shooter was on or near the campus in nearby Commerce. 

"As a precaution, University Police are performing continuous extra patrols until the suspect is in custody. Should anyone see something suspicious or feel unsafe, he or she should contact campus police immediately," the university's comment said. 

Rudin later sent an update to students and staff apologizing for wording in the initial statement and announcing a community gathering Monday. 

CANDIDATES WEIGH IN

The two Texas Democratic presidential candidates called for stricter gun laws in reaction to mass shootings. 

Beto O'Rourke said the Greenville shooting should inspire action. 

"My heart is with everyone in the Greenville community—but grief cannot be our only emotion. We must also be angry, resilient, devoted to doing everything we can to end this epidemic of gun violence, before even more lives are lost to our inaction," the former congressman wrote on Twitter. 

Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio and a presidential candidate, said Americans were choosing "senseless death over gun reform." 

"In the wake of yet another mass shooting in Texas, what might finally compel our leaders to act?" he wrote on Twitter. "Two more lives lost. Dozens changed forever. This is the choice we make, senseless death over gun reform."

Dan Flynn, the state representative for district 2, which represents Hunt County including Greenville and Commerce, asked for prayers for the victims, their families, and the police.

"Would appreciate your prayers for the victims their families and our law enforcement personnel as they work this sorrowful event," Flynn wrote in an Instagram post.

This story was originally published by KETR.