Texas mall shooting leaves several dead.
Gunman Kills Eight at Texas Mall
A crowded outdoor mall in Allen, Texas, was the site of a horrific shooting on Saturday, leaving at least eight people dead and seven others injured. The gunman, dressed in full SWAT gear and armed with an AR-15, opened fire on unsuspecting civilians, including children. Dashcam footage captured the moment the shooter arrived at the mall and began his assault.
Hero Police Officer Takes Down Shooter
Amidst the chaos, a hero police officer responded to the scene and engaged the shooter, ultimately neutralizing the threat. The officer, who has not been identified, was on an unrelated call when he heard gunshots and rushed to the scene.
Details Still Emerging
Details about the shooter and his motive remain unknown. While initial reports suggested there may have been a second gunman at large, police have since confirmed that the shooter acted alone. The scene was active for several hours as police and ATF agents swept stores and evacuated citizens. Medical City Healthcare is treating eight victims, ranging in age from 5 to 61.
Eye Witness Accounts
Eye witness accounts and disturbing footage captured at the scene offer a glimpse into the horror that unfolded. One mother, whose car was hit by two bullets as she fled the scene with her daughter, shared her account on Facebook. Other photos and videos show the aftermath of the shooting, including bloodied bodies lying outside stores.
Thoughts and Prayers
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We stand with the community of Allen, Texas, and all those affected by this senseless act of violence.
Active Shooter at Outdoor Outlet Mall Leaves Multiple Victims
Tragedy struck an outdoor outlet mall in Texas when an active shooter opened fire, leaving multiple victims in its wake. One of the gunmen has reportedly been killed, but the other is still at large. The incident caused mass panic and chaos, with shoppers fleeing for their lives.
Eye Witness Accounts
Several eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple shots and seeing people running out of stores. Elaine Penicaro, a local mother, described hearing a nonstop hail of gunfire while shopping with her daughter. Brayson Jones, a 17-year-old who was working at the outlets’ Champs Sports store, heard “probably 20-plus shots” and saw people running out of stores.
Mass Evacuation and Ongoing Investigation
Police reportedly swept each store to assess their safety, with hundreds of shoppers filed away from the H&M location where the bodies were seen. As of 7pm, police were still looking for the second gunman, and the scene is still considered active. Video footage and eyewitness accounts provide some semblance of the horror shoppers faced.
Unconfirmed Fatalities
While officials could only account for at least nine victims who were transported to hospitals, several more victims may have been taken in private vehicles. The number of fatalities has not been confirmed by police.
- Multiple victims reported
- One gunman reportedly dead, another at large
- Mass panic and chaos ensued
- Eye witness accounts describe nonstop gunfire and people running out of stores
- Police swept each store to assess safety and shoppers were evacuated
- Number of fatalities unconfirmed
Active Shooter at Texas Mall Leaves Multiple Victims
Accounts posted to social media from roughly 5pm to 8pm offered a similar account of the events that caused police to evacuate the massive shopping center. Police said that the scene is still active, and shoppers were seen fleeing the sounds of gunfire in footage of the frantic scene currently circulating on social media. Multiple victims have been reported after an active shooter opened fired at an outdoor outlet mall in suburban Texas. A spokesperson for Collin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Saturday evening as officers were still investigating that there were ‘some’ victims at the mall.
Witness Accounts
- A woman named Colleen, who did not wish to provide her surname, told CBS Texas she was with her son at the mall at the time of the shooting. They described the shooter as wearing all black in and wearing ‘like a SWAT uniform without the letters SWAT on it’. She said the shooter was a ‘big guy’ and was carrying a rifle before he opened fire and people began to run screaming in different directions.
- A witness told CNN he saw the gunman exiting his vehicle before ‘shooting his gun everywhere for the most part’ on the sidewalk outside.
- Another man, who was shopping with his wife and six-year-old son, said his family ran into a changing room and stacked cardboard boxes against the door to protect themselves.
- One man rushed to the scene after his daughter who was at the mall texted him saying ‘daddy I love you, there’s a shooting’.
Her son initially thought the gunshots were construction noises before he saw the killer in front of the store. He said: ‘Out of nowhere I heard about like 10 pops go off and I look at the customer next to me and I was like “was that gunshots?”. ‘And he said it was probably just construction and more shots go off, heard like 10-15 more shots go off and so I ran to the front of the store and we’re like no that’s shooting. ‘We saw the guy dressed in all black wearing a vest, has an assault rifle and he’s just shooting at people.’
Other witnesses said they were taken into the back of stores by employees before exiting from that side once police said it was safe to leave.
Response from Officials
The shooting has left the city of Allen looking for answers, and comes at least 199 mass shootings this year in the US. It also comes just short of the year anniversary of the mass shooting across the state in Uvalde, which saw nineteen children and two adults fatally shot by an 18-year-old gunman with an assault weapon.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent state officials from multiple agencies to aid Allen police with their investigation, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas Rangers. Mayor Kevin Fulk, a lifelong resident of Allen, added: ‘Today is a tragic day for the city of Allen … We know the days ahead will be difficult and somber.’
Texas Senator Cruz also issued a statement that said he and his wife Heidi ‘ are praying for the families of the victims of the horrific mall shooting in Allen, Texas. ‘We pray also for the broader Collin County community that’s in shock from this tragedy,’ the Republican, an outspoken opponent of harsher gun laws, said.
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Breaking News: Shooting Reported
Reports are coming in of a shooting in the downtown area. The situation is still developing and details are scarce at this time.
What We Know So Far:
- Multiple shots were fired in the downtown area
- Police are on the scene and investigating
- It is unclear if there is still an active gunman at large
We urge everyone in the area to stay indoors and avoid the downtown area until further notice.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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