Greg Abbott heard about a school shooting in Texas and then went to a fundraiser

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attended a fundraiser Tuesday after being briefed on the deadly elementary school shooting that killed 19 children and two adults.

Abbott was scheduled to attend the fundraiser at a private home in Walker County, Texas, and his campaign said the governor attended the event briefly.

The governor’s campaign and political events are now being postponed following the shooting. Abbott, a Republican, is running for a third term as governor against Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

Abbott had visited Taylor County Tuesday to study Texas’ wildfire response and was briefed on the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde during his stay and later attended the fundraiser briefly.

During his visit to Taylor County, he also gave a press conference where he spoke about the shooting.

Abbott’s campaign spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement The Texas Tribune on Wednesday: “After delivering a briefing and press conference on the current Taylor County wildfires, where he also provided an update [on] In response to the situation in Uvalde, the governor stopped by at a previously scheduled event at a private residence in Walker County last night.”

“All campaigning and political activities, including a planned fundraiser for tonight, have [been] postponed until further notice,” the statement continued.

Abbott was asked about participating in the fundraiser at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

“Regarding yesterday, I was actually in Taylor County responding to another disaster, the disaster of fires that ripped through Taylor County and destroyed 20 homes, and that’s when I found out about the shooting that was pretty much taking place at the time,” said Abbott.

The governor continued, “On the way back to Austin, I stopped and let people know I couldn’t stay, that I had to go, and I wanted them to know what happened and get back to Austin so I could.” We can continue to work with Texas law enforcement to ensure all needs are met here in the Uvalde area.”

A skilled fundraiser, Abbott massively outbid his Democratic opponent Lupe Valdez in the 2018 election.

Abbott will also speak at a National Rifle Association (NRA) event in Houston on Friday that is scheduled to feature former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

It’s not clear if Abbott will cancel his appearance at the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Leadership Forum

“As for future plans … I’m living moment to moment right now, my heart, mind and body are in Uvalde right now and I’m here to help the people who are hurting,” Abbott said Wednesday.

news week has reached out to Greg Abbott’s campaign for comment.