Beto O’Rourke, the former U.S. representative in Texas and aspiring to run for the Democratic presidency, interrupted a press conference on a recent school mass shooting in the state to blame state officials.
“You’re not doing anything,” O’Rourke is heard standing under the officers’ podium, pointing. “This is totally predictable.”
An official said “You’re offline” three times to O’Rourke while speaking inaudibly.
Read more: At least 21 dead after a shooting at a Texas elementary school: officials
“Please leave the auditorium,” an official said. “I can’t believe you’re an ab **** son who comes to an agreement like this to make a political issue.”
O’Rourke, a Democrat running for governor of Texas against Republican Greg Abbott, began calling on officials after Abbott finished finding out the mental health resources available to those affected by the shooting.
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2:54 Update on Texas Mass Shooting School Update on Texas Mass Shooting School
The confrontation comes a day after an 18-year-old gunman crashed into a classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults.
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O’Rourke then walked away from the podium, but could be heard saying, “It’s up to you,” as the crowd shouted, “Go home.”
“It’s up to you to decide what to do” Beto O’Rourke faces Governor Abbott in a briefing on the shooting at Texas Elementary School. pic.twitter.com/bqbQXTPm6O
– MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 25, 2022
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Speaking to reporters outside the press conference, O’Rourke said, “We owe the action to these parents. They want us to do something right now. I want us to do something right now. We can do something right now. But if we continue to accept that, it’s up to us, it’s not just the governor’s fault, it’s our fault. “
0:48 Texas School Shooting: A gunman posted Facebook posts about the murders, the governor says. Texas School Shootout: Gunman Posts Facebook Posts About Murder, Governor Says
Prior to the interruption, Texas officials detailed that the gunman had dropped out of high school and had no criminal or mental health record. They said there was no significant warning of the shooting, only information posted on Facebook 30 minutes before arriving at the school. The publication had said he would shoot his grandmother, who is currently in hospital with serious injuries.
The US Congress has repeatedly failed to pass legislation to curb armed violence in the country, prompting lawmakers and citizens to express their exasperation over the issue.
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– with Reuters files
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