Politicians and others respond to two mass shootings within 24 hours in Dayton and El Paso

People walk out of an elementary school after family members were asked to reunite following a shooting  at a shopping mall in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.   Multiple people were killed and one person was in custody after a shooter went on a rampage at a shopping mall, police in the Texas border town of El Paso said. (AP Photo/Rudy Gutierrez)

Credit: Rudy Gutierrez

Credit: Rudy Gutierrez

People walk out of an elementary school after family members were asked to reunite following a shooting at a shopping mall in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Multiple people were killed and one person was in custody after a shooter went on a rampage at a shopping mall, police in the Texas border town of El Paso said. (AP Photo/Rudy Gutierrez)

At least 20 people were shot at a shopping center in El Paso, Texas, according to local officials. One person is in custody, police said. Hours later, 9 people were killed in a shooting at a popular nightlife area of Dayton, Ohio, local police said.

>> Read more trending news

As news of the shootings spread, many took to social media to express their remorse.

By Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump ordered flags be flown at half-staff in honor of the mass shooting victims on El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, according to Dayton Daily News.

"Our nation mourns with those whose loved ones were murdered in the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and we share in the pain and suffering of all those who were injured in these two senseless attacks. We condemn these hateful and cowardly acts," Trump said. "Through our grief, America stands united with the people of El Paso and Dayton. May God be with the victims of these two horrific crimes and bring aid and comfort to their families and friends"

The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on Aug. 8.

Walmart issued a statement on the shooting at its El Paso, Texas location:

Several politicians also chimed in, offering thoughts and prayers, while others said that is not enough.

Former President Barack Obama issued a statement on the shootings on Monday afternoon.

"Michelle and I grieve with all the families in El Paso and Dayton who endured these latest mass shootings," the lengthy statement said. "Even if details are still emerging, there are a few things we already know to be true.

"First, no other nation on Earth comes close to experiencing the frequency of mass shootings that we see in the United States. ... Second, while the motivations behind these shootings may not yet be fully known, there are indications that the El Paso shooting follows a dangerous trend: troubled individuals who embrace racist ideologies and see themselves obligated to act violently to preserve white supremacy."

Obama's full statement can be read below.

The shooting also sparked a conversation about gun control. The hashtag #GunControlNow quickly became on trending topic on Twitter.