Shooter’s motive a mystery

POLICE say they are not sure why a man with only a misdemeanour on his record went on a shooting rampage after a traffic stop in West Texas, killing seven.

Authorities said that Seth Aaron Ator, 36, also injured 22 people on Sunday before officers killed him outside a busy movie theatre in Odessa.

Online court records show Ator was arrested in 2001 for a misdemeanour offence that would not have prevented him from legally purchasing firearms in Texas, although authorities have not said where Ator got the “AR style” weapon he used.

Authorities said those killed were between the ages of 15 and 57.

Family and employers said that among the dead were Edwin Peregrino, 25, who ran out of his parents’ home to see what the commotion was, and 15-year-old student Leilah Hernandez, who was walking out of a car dealership.

“Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said there were still no answers pointing to a motive for the chaotic attacks, which began when Texas state troopers tried pulling over a car for failing to signal a turn.

Before the vehicle came to a complete stop, the driver pointed a rifle toward the rear window of his car and fired several shots toward the patrol car stopping him.

The gunman shot a trooper then fled and continued shooting. He fired at random as he drove in the area of Odessa and Midland. At one point, Ator abandoned his vehicle and hijacked a US postal van and mortally wounded the postal carrier, identified as Mary Grandos, 29.

Police used a marked SUV to ram the mail truck outside the Cinergy Movie Theater in Odessa, disabling the vehicle. The gunman then fired at police, wounding two officers before he was killed.

Police said Ator was charged with misdemeanour criminal trespass and evading arrest in 2001.