Gov. Abbott and a variety of state and local officials were holding a press conference to update the public on the Uvalde massacre at Robb Elementary School. It was a governing, not a campaign, event.

After Mr. Abbott had spoken for several minutes, Mr. O’Rourke interrupted to point a finger at the Governor and declare, “This is on you,” referring to the murder of 19 children and two teachers by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. “You said this was not predictable. This is totally predictable when you choose not to do anything,” Mr. O’Rourke added. The Democrat was then asked to leave by other officials on the stage, with at least one uttering an epithet.

When Mr. Abbott’s allies saw Mr. O’Rourke step forward, they began yelling at him.

One official ordered the El Paso native to “Shut up!” The state’s lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, told him, “You’re out of line and an embarrassment.” The mayor of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, said he could not believe Mr. O’Rourke was the type of “sick” individual who “would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” using an obscenity.

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