A new video has been released, capturing how some of our teenagers are coming to terms with the unfortunate events and the new bonds that are being developed. ‘Texas Strong’ was created by Cody Broadway, a filmmaker and news director in San Angelo for FOX-TV. He has been nominated for 16 Regional Emmy Awards and has won six of them. His documentaries have been selected and screened across the globe at 25 film festivals. From New York City to Cannes France, his work has been seen in four Oscar-qualifying festivals.
When asked about his motivation to produce the ‘Texas Strong’ video, Broadway had this to say, “Well, it’s my goal and passion to touch people by my talent. I have so much passion for storytelling, and that is what I wanted to do.” He goes on to explain, “It’s not so much about what has happened, but more about the good in humanity. Evil strikes, but it will not keep us down. Seeing what these kids did Thursday night gives me hope for the future!”
The following recounts the events that shook the two communities in August. Names of the two Entities of Evil have been omitted not by accident.
AND SO IT BEGAN… EL PASO
The mass shooting occurred at the Walmart Supercenter near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso on the morning of August 3, 2019. The gunman walked into the store carrying what is believed to have been a WASR-10 rifle and opened fire just before 10:40 that morning. He shot and killed 22 people and injured 24 others.
First responders began to arrive within six minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call. The El Paso police and paramedics responded to the scene along with the FBI. After the rampage was unleashed in the store, the shooter drove to a nearby intersection and identified himself as the spineless culprit and surrendered to Texas Rangers.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism. It is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States this year, the seventh deadliest since 1949, and the third deadliest in Texas. One would assume the Death Penalty would definitely be in order.
THREE WEEKS LATER… ODESSA
A shooting spree started at 3:17 in the afternoon on August 31, 2019. Seven people were killed and 23 were injured. During a procedural traffic stop on Interstate 20, a Texas state trooper was shot while the suspect was being detained. He left that scene and the chaos began.
The gunman continued into the city of Odessa, firing at random people. He eventually abandoned his vehicle and hijacked a USPS minivan and killed the driver. He ventured into a highly populated area of northeast Odessa, where he continued to spray rounds at innocent people on and off the roadway.
Odessa and Midland law enforcement officers were able to finally corner and terminate the evil in the parking lot of a movie theater. Authorities are not sure how to got the weapon(s). He failed a national criminal background check while attempting to purchase a gun five years ago for being deemed mentally unfit.
Both of our communities have endured these travesties over the past month. This past week in Odessa has been very awkward to say the least. Together we will heal, we will overcome, we will rise, we will be stronger, and we will continue forward because we are Texas Strong!
