Beto O'Rourke confronts Abbott during news conference on Uvalde mass shooting: 'This is on you'

The first: “I’m going to shoot my grandmother.”

The second: “I shot my grandmother.”

15 minutes later: “I’m going to shoot an elementary school.”

On HoustonChronicle.com: AR-style rifles like the one used in Uvalde shooting often leave victims unrecognizable, experts say

(A spokesman for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said Abbott mischaracterized the shooter’s correspondence as a public post when it was a private message that was not discovered until after the shooting.)

Abbott’s voice broke and he fought back tears. “Anyone who shoots his grandmother in the face has to have evil in his heart … But it is far more evil for someone to gun down little kids. It is intolerable and it is unacceptable.”

The mood of the event shifted, however, as Abbott prepared to hand the microphone to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is running against Abbott in the November election and was sitting in the front row, stood up and interrupted the press conference, trying to make a statement as people on the stage shouted him down.

"This is on you", O'Rourke said as he approached the stage, pointing at Abbott.

“You’re out of line, and an embarrassment,” Patrick said.

“ ... This was totally predictable,” O’Rourke continued.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, standing onstage behind Abbott, shouted at O'Rourke, “Sir, you’re out of line,” later calling him a "sick son of a (expletive) who would come to a deal like this to make a political issue."

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Abbott tried to shame O'Rourke and had security escort him out of the building moments later.

“We need to think of something other than ourselves, think of the people who have been hurt. And help those who have been hurt,” Abbott said.

Other Republicans were also quick to condemn O'Rourke.

Wesley Hunt, the Republican nominee for Congressional District 38, called O'Rourke's stunt disgraceful and disrespectful to the victims. 

But some commended O'Rourke for the confrontation, including State Rep. Gene Wu and a mother of a mass shooting victim in Parkland, Fla.

Also appearing at Uvalde High School, just 2 miles from Robb Elementary School where 21 have died, including 19 children, were Sen. Ted Cruz, along with House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Immediately after the shooting on Tuesday, Abbott put out a statement decrying the deaths.

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde,” Abbott said. “Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering.”