Texas Governor Greg Abott confirms the gunman used an illegally obtained semi-auto rifle during his drive-by rampage last Saturday that left 7 dead and 22 wounded.
The gunman was eventually shot and killed Saturday by law enforcement at Cinergy theater in Odessa, TX.
Not only did the Odessa gunman have a criminal history...— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 2, 2019
...he also previously failed a gun purchase background check in Texas...
...& he didn’t go thru a background check for the gun he used in Odessa.
We must keep guns out of criminals’ hands. https://t.co/vgrqcHtBtF
This was also confirmed by State Rep. Tom Craddick(R-82 district) who told the Reporter-Telegram the gunman had previously failed a background check.
According the Washington Post:
"(The gunman) had before failed to pass a check with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System while trying to buy a gun, said John Wester, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent.The gunman was "on a long spiral going down." NBC reports: He also called the police and FBI before the rampage and 'rambled a lot' about the 'atrocities that he felt he had gone through.'" Being fired from his job the day of his murderous rampage was probably one more in an seething list of many 'atrocities.'
Years earlier, Ator had been charged with criminal trespass and evading arrest, according to a public records search. His previous interactions with Odessa police were minor, Gerke said.
FBI investigators completed a search of Ator’s property Sunday. “It’s a very strange residence, it is very small,” Combs said. The conditions of the property reflected Ator’s mental state, the agent said."
"While the FBI and police stopped well short of explaining the killer's motive, they painted a picture of a man who'd been struggling for a long period of time.Once again, additional gun control laws would not have done anything to stop this deranged man. Plus, no manifesto; no white supremacy; no terrorist connection - just a sick man angry at the world.
"It's a very strange residence. It's very small. I can tell you the conditions reflect what we believe his mental state was going into this," Combs said.
"He was a long spiral of going down. He didn't wake up Saturday morning and walk into his company and then it happened. He went to that company in trouble, probably been in trouble for a while ... we really need the public's help to reach out to us when they see people in that downward spiral that may be on that road to violence."
TY: Director Blue for the linkage