This shooting in Allen was the latest in a string of mass killings that have been plaguing the United States at an alarming rate. Just a week prior, in Cleveland, Texas, authorities reported that a man had fatally shot five people after a neighbor requested him to cease firing his weapon while a baby was asleep.Immediate details about the victims at the Allen Premium Outlets were not provided by the police. However, witnesses at the scene reported seeing children among the casualties. Additionally, some witnesses mentioned observing a police officer and a mall security guard lying unconscious on the ground, presumably injured during the chaotic incident.A 16-year-old employee named Maxwell Gum, who worked at a pretzel stand in the mall, shared his harrowing experience. He described the scene as a virtual stampede, with panicked shoppers running for their lives. Gum and several others sought refuge in a storage room to shield themselves from the danger. Amid the chaos, Gum's coworker displayed remarkable courage by lifting a 4-year-old girl and reuniting her with her parents, potentially saving her lifeVideo footage captured by a dashboard camera and circulating online depicted the chilling moments of the shooting. The recording showed the gunman stepping out of the car and indiscriminately firing at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots rang out as the vehicle recording the video hastily departed the scene.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd provided some details about the tragic aftermath. He stated that seven individuals, including the shooter, lost their lives at the scene of the shooting. Emergency services transported nine victims to nearby hospitals, but tragically, two of them succumbed to their injuries later on. At the time of Chief Boyd's statement, three of the wounded were listed in critical condition, while the condition of the remaining four victims was reported as stable.Remarkably, an Allen Police Department officer happened to be in the vicinity on an unrelated call when he heard the sound of gunfire at approximately 3:36 p.m. The department later confirmed this on their Facebook page. Without hesitation, the officer swiftly responded to the scene, engaged the shooter, and ultimately ended the threat.During a news conference held later that evening, Chief of Police Brian E. Harvey provided an update on the situation. While he did not disclose the gunman's identity, he confirmed that the individual acted alone. On the following day, a federal law enforcement official revealed the gunman's name as Mauricio Garcia, aged 38.Chief Harvey expressed gratitude for the actions of the police officer who bravely confronted and neutralized the shooter. The chief confirmed that seven individuals, including the gunman, were pronounced dead at the mall. However, it was acknowledged that additional victims may have been transported to hospitals by private vehicles, making the full count uncertain. Chief Boyd, the Allen fire chief, indicated that they could account for at least nine victims in total. Sadly, two of those transported later succumbed to their injuries. As of the evening, three individuals remained in critical condition, while four were reported to be in stable condition.A video circulating on social media showed the lifeless body of the gunman lying on the ground. Clad in black clothing, the shooter was equipped with what appeared to be a tactical vest, multiple rounds of ammunition, and a long gun.
