Walmart shooting hero saves crying children lost in store during El Paso bloodbath

Hero Glen Oakley was inside Walmart in El Paso when a gunman entered and starting shooting. [Image: MSNBC]

A hero of the Walmart shooting has told reporters how he tried to pick up and carry as many terrified children as he could and run to safety during the bloodbath.

Military man Glen Oakley was inside the Walmart when the El Paso shooting happened today.

He saw terrified people cowering in a Foot Locker store and children running without their parents, scared and alone as the shots rang out.

He told reporters that he pulled his own gun out as he heard the first gunshots but quickly his attention turned to the children and as he ran he picked up as many as he could and carried them to safety.

Mr Oakley told MSNBC: "I see a whole bunch of kids running around without their parents, I got my bag in my hand I'm trying to pick up as many as I can and run out

"They're so anxious, they're dropping out of my hand.

"I made my way out and when I got out, I guess one of the cops thought I was the shooter so I had to show them I have a licence to carry

"I called a friend, and I'm here now, but it was just a whole bunch of kids. I'm shaking. A whole bunch of kids. They were without their parents and stuff. I tried to pick up as many as I could and bring them out with me."

Mr Oakley, who was shopping for a jersey at the time, said he feared the police thought he was the shooter and he had to explain that he had a licence to carry a firearm.

He added that a "little kid" ran into the store and said there was an "active shooter in Walmart" but at first neither he nor the staff member on duty believed him as "he was just a kid".

He said that was when they heard "pop-pop" and he got his gun out.

"They closed the Foot Locker, some people were in there and they were so scared they just lifted the cage and just hid so I ran with them."

Mr Oakley said he is in the military and when he hears gunshots his first thought is "boom boom, take cover, save whoever I can."

"But I was so worried about those kids, man. Aint no telling - I heard more than one shooter. I heard there was four. I'm just worried about the kids," he added.

Law enforcement agencies responded to the active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas. [Image: AFP/Getty Images]

The horror mass shooting at a Walmart today has seen 18 people gunned down and killed, according to local reports.

A gunman is reported to have opened fire in the car park before going inside the store in the city which is on the border with Mexico and the state of New Mexico.

Distressing footage posted on social media shows people shot and seriously injured in the car park.

Terrified shoppers sheltered under desks to hide from the gunman.

The number of injured is yet to be confirmed by officials but the mayor of El Paso has confirmed there has been 'multiple fatalities'.

Police initially said they received multiple reports there may have been more than one shooter but that now appears to have been false. 

One suspect is in custody and the scene is no longer being considered 'active' by El Paso police.