Texas mall shooting: 8 killed, gunman dead

A shooting occurred on Saturday at the Allen Premium Outlets, a Dallas-area outdoor shopping center. The gunman, who stepped out of a silver sedan, began firing at people, killing eight and injuring seven, three of whom were critically injured. Witnesses reported seeing children among the victims, as well as what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard who were unconscious on the ground. Dashcam footage showed the gunman shooting at people on the sidewalk. An Allen police officer, who happened to be in the area, engaged the suspect and killed him.

The shooting caused panic among shoppers, and many fled the scene. A 16-year-old employee of a pretzel stand described a stampede of shoppers and said that he and others had taken shelter in a storage room. Seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene, and nine victims were taken to area hospitals. Two of the victims later died, while three remained in critical condition.

The frequency of mass shootings in the US has increased dramatically this year, with an average of approximately one per week. President Biden was briefed on the shooting, and the White House has offered support to local officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has signed laws easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings, called the incident an “unspeakable tragedy.”

Eyewitnesses described seeing bodies covered in white towels and slumped over bags on the ground. One witness saw what appeared to be a heavyset man wearing all black, who they assumed was the shooter. Another shopper reported seeing what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store.

The shooting caused more than 30 police cruisers to block an entrance to the mall, with multiple ambulances and law enforcement vehicles on the scene. The Dallas office of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded. Allen, which is approximately 25 miles north of downtown Dallas, has roughly 105,000 residents.