Donald Trump accused of 'copy and paste' tweet after sending message of support for wrong US shooting

Tweet: A tired looking Trump returning home from his trip to Asia
Getty Images
Chloe Chaplain15 November 2017

Donald Trump has been criticised for a major Twitter blunder after he sent a message of support about the wrong US shooting.

The President, who touched down on Tuesday night after a 12-day tour of Asia, posted a message on his Twitter page after news broke that a gunman had opened fire at a school, and several other sites, in California.

But his message appeared to refer a separate shooting at a church in Texas on November 5, in which 26 people were killed.

Mr Trump wrote on Tuesday: “May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived.”

Shooting: The President appeared to offer his support for the wrong shooting on Wednesday morning

Many were quick to point out his crass mistake including Piers Morgan, a long-time supporter of the President, who wrote: “At least get your mass shootings right, Mr President. This was last week. The new one is in California.”

Mr Trump was also accused of using “copy and paste” on his condolence messages, after the tweet appeared to be almost word for word the same as the one he had posted just over a week prior.

Condolences: The tweet was almost exactly the same as his previous message of support for a shooting in Texas (pictured)

In the November 5 shooting, Devin Kelley stormed into the Sunday service and opened fire on members of the congregation, killing 26 and wounding more than 20.

Following Tuesday’s tragedy, four people have been confirmed dead after a man in northern California went on a gun rampage at several locations, including a primary school.

The shooting started in the morning at a home in the rural community of Rancho Tehama where the suspect is believed to have killed two of his neighbours who he had fallen out with.

He then went onto launch attacks at several other sites where he killed two more people and injured 10 before police shot him dead.

Police said surveillance video shows the shooter unsuccessfully trying to enter a nearby school after quick-thinking staff members locked the outside doors and barricaded themselves inside when they heard gunshots.

California: Crime tape blocks off the scene following the fatal shooting
AP

County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said the gunman spent about six minutes shooting into Rancho Tehama Elementary School before driving off to continue shooting elsewhere. One student was shot and injured and is expected to survive.

"It was a bizarre and murderous rampage," Mr Johnston said.

He said the 45-minute spree ended when a patrol car rammed the stolen vehicle the shooter was driving and killed him in a shootout.

According to Mr Johnston, the shooter was facing charges of assaulting one of the feuding neighbours in January and that she had a restraining order against him.

At least one child was wounded at the Rancho Tehama Elementary School
AP

"I think the motive of getting even with his neighbours and when it went that far - he just went on a rampage," he said.

Johnston declined to identify the shooter until his relatives were notified, but he confirmed the gunman was charged with assault in January and had a restraining order placed against him.

The district attorney, Gregg Cohen, told the Sacramento Bee he is prosecuting a man named Kevin Neal in that case.

Neal's mother told The Associated Press he was in a long-running dispute with neighbours he believed were cooking methamphetamine.

The mother, Anne, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she raised Neal and said her son had been arrested in January for stabbing a neighbour.

She said the neighbour was slightly cut after Neal grabbed a steak knife out of the hand of the neighbour who was threatening him with it.

She told The Associated Press she spoke to Neal on the phone on Monday when he said "Mom it's all over now. I have done everything I could do and I am fighting against everyone who lives in this area."

Neal's sister, Sheridan Orr, said the family was trying to reach the sheriff's department Tuesday evening but still had not been notified. She said her brother had struggled with mental illness throughout his life and at times had a violent temper.

"We're stunned and we're appalled that this is a person who has no business with firearms whatsoever," Orr said. "Our deep, deep sympathy for the victims and it sounds trite but our hearts are breaking for them."

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