7:45 p.m. CDT
A federal law enforcement official says authorities had an open investigation into accused gunman Elton Simpson at the time of a shooting at a Texas cartoon contest, according to AP reporter Eric Tucker in Washington.
The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official also said investigators will be studying the contacts the men had prior to the shooting, both with associates in the U.S. and abroad, to determine any additional terror-related ties. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s assault.
The event in Garland, a Dallas suburb, featured a deliberatively provocative contest for images of the Prophet Muhammad. Simpson and another man opened fire outside the event. Both men were killed by an officer. A security guard was injured.
2:30 p.m. CDT