POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) - While Poway Mayor Steve Vaus may have prepared for an event like Saturday’s shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue, he never expected it would actually happen.
Vaus would rather focus on the heroism and bravery that came out of such tragedy, including the off-duty Border Patrol agent who had his weapon and fired at the suspect.
“The fact that a Border Patrol agent was there and willing to take on the gunman, that made a huge difference; there's no doubt in my mind that we could've seen many many more lives lost,” Vaus said.
Vaus, who is a vocal supporter of the second amendment and gun ownership rights, did not want to say if the synagogue shooting had changed his views.
“No, let’s talk about community; let’s talk about Poway,” said Vaus in an interview with 10News anchor Lindsey Peña. “And I do that because my concern right now is strictly for community; there's gonna be plenty of time for that later.””
Vaus did not want to say the name of the suspected shooter.
“I haven't thought about the gunman or the suspect one bit; I haven't thought about how he did what he did, but let me be clear it was hatred that killed, it was hatred that injured. I know nothing about the tools and at this point I don't care,” said Vaus.
“At this point at this time my only concern is for my community; my only regard for the suspect is that he feel the full force of the law.”
