West Texas Mass Shooter Had Criminal Record In Small Town Outside Of Waco
LORENA, TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) — One day following the mass shooting in West Texas, the FBI executed a search warrant at an address connected to Ator — a metal shack off a dirt road in West Odessa.
Sources told CBS 11 News Ator was staying in the shack while he was working for a local trucking company.
On Saturday, sources confirmed, Ator was let go from his job but officials do not believe that was his motive for the shooting.
Years before he went on a killing spree, Ator lived in the small town of Lorena, just outside Waco.
He graduated from Lorena High School in 2001.
Months after graduation, Ator was arrested for criminal trespassing and evading arrest, his only previous criminal charges on record. He pleaded guilty to both misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 24 months probation.
This brush with the law 18 years ago would not prevent Ator from legally buying a gun.
In these types of investigations, investigators are quick to point out if the gun was purchased legally. That has yet to happen.
How Ator obtained his gun will be address by officials in the coming days, according to law enforcement sources.
