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Police take out gunman who killed at least 8 at Texas outlet mall

May 7, 2023 | | Print Article

The lives of eight victims were taken at a Texas outlet mall before an officer’s quick response neutralized the murderous suspect who opened fire on unsuspecting shoppers.

(Video: Fox 4)

The city of Allen, Texas, roughly twenty miles north of Dallas, was struck by tragedy Saturday afternoon when an as yet unidentified suspect, described as wearing “tactical gear,” began a rampage at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Dashcam footage posted online captured the moment a man can be seen stepping out of a silver sedan outside of an H&M store where aerial footage later showed numerous victims had been gunned down, while other video captured the chaos as people fled the area to the sound of gunshots.

Warning: Graphic

https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1654989292391878657

https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1654961381286748160

According to updates provided by first responders at a press conference late Saturday night, an officer had been on scene for an unrelated call when the first shots were heard around 3:36 p.m. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey explained the officer, “heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralized the suspect.”

However, those heroic actions were not before at least eight victims were fatally wounded. As Allen Fire Department chief Jonathan Boyd detailed, of those who died, six victims were pronounced dead on the scene with two later passing away at the hospital. Three of the nine wounded were transported to local hospitals and remained in critical condition while the other four were said to be stable. As for the deceased murderer, a possible motive has yet to be disclosed.

Fox 4 News reported that, “A spokesperson for Medical City Healthcare said eight victims ranging from 5 to 61 years old are being treated at their facilities.”

An additional statement from the Allen Police Department noted, “Nine victims were transported to local hospitals by Allen Fire Department. A multi-agency response helped secure the mall…Our hearts are with the individuals and families impacted by this tragic event…”

 

Reacting to the tragedy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a statement that read, “Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy. I have been in contact with Mayor Fulk and DPS Director McCraw as well as other state and local leaders and offered the full support of the State of Texas to local officials to ensure all needed assistance and resources are swiftly deployed, including DPS officers, Texas Rangers, and investigative resources.”

Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), who represents District 3 which includes Allen, participated in the press conference and released his own statement on social media, “We are devastated by the tragic news of the shootings that took place at the Allen Premium Outlets today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and all law enforcement on the scene.”

“This is an ongoing situation, but Allen PD has full control of the scene. A shooter is down and there are multiple casualties. They are continuing to work to ensure the scene is safe. The public is being asked to stay away from that area while this investigation continues,” he added following the tragedy.

Though the situation at the Allen Premium Outlets was neutralized quickly, the chaos caused spread beyond those shoppers, many of whom huddled together inside stores seeking shelter.

Later Saturday evening at the Stonebriar Mall in nearby Frisco, officers responded to reports of shots fired triggering an evacuation and search of the building. A statement from the Frisco Police explained, “The preliminary investigation has found that prior to the initial report of shots being fired, a large number of teens gathered inside the mall and began running and screaming, causing panic. At this time, there is no evidence to indicate actual gunshots inside the mall, nor are there any known gunshot victims.”

Kevin Haggerty
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