18m ago / 6:48 PM UTC
Suspected shooter identified as Mauricio Garcia
The suspected gunman in Saturday’s shooting at a Dallas-area outlet mall that left eight people dead and a half-dozen more wounded was identified Sunday as Mauricio Garcia, two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.
Garcia, 33, was also killed after the outbreak of violence at Allen Premium Outlets. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said the suspect was “neutralized” by a city police officer who was responding to an unrelated call at the mall.
One of the senior law enforcement officials said that Garcia had a tactical vest and was armed with a rifle of some kind as well as a handgun. More weapons and ammunition were found in his car, the source said.
The nanes of the victims in the shooting have not been released.
19m ago / 6:48 PM UTC
Six victims, three critical, remain at Medical City Healthcare facilities
Six victims of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, three of which are in critical condition, remain at Medical City Healthcare facilities, according to a statement from the healthcare provider.
Four of the victims are at Medical City McKinney, where three are in critical condition and one is in “fair condition,” the healthcare provider said.
One patient is at Medical City Children’s Hospital and is in fair condition, while another is at Medical City Plano and also listed in fair condition.
On Saturday, eight patients from the shooting were taken to Medical City Healthcare trauma facilities. Most of them were taken Medical City McKinney, an acute care hospital and Level II trauma center, where four of the victims remain.
19m ago / 6:47 PM UTC
Democrats continue to weigh in on Allen Premium Outlets shooting: ‘Children are being slaughtered throughout America’
Democrats are continuing to weigh in on the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, which claimed eight lives, including children.
“Children are being slaughtered throughout America,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY., tweeted on Sunday. “Extreme MAGA Republicans want to ban books. President Biden and House Dems are working hard to ban weapons of war.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA., said she was “sickened” by the shooting “that terrorized families spending their afternoon at the mall.”
“Our prayers are with the beautiful souls stolen, the victims wounded and their devastated loved ones, and we salute the heroic first responders,” she tweeted. “We must stop the bloodshed.”
39m ago / 6:27 PM UTC
Texas mall shooting witness: ‘Mental health didn’t fire that gun’
1h ago / 5:56 PM UTC
Texas lawmakers offer condolences to victims and their families
Texas congressional lawmakers from both sides of the aisle reacted to the shooting on social media, with some sending prayers and others demanding change:
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted, “Heidi and I 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.
“My team is in contact with local officials, and I have offered whatever support is needed to do justice and help those in need. Thank you to the incredible law enforcement who put a stop to the monster who committed this act of evil,” Cruz added.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, tweeted, “I am grieving with the Allen community tonight, and I send my gratitude to the brave @Allen_Police officers, Collin County first responders, and all of those involved in responding to this afternoon’s horrific incident.”
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who represents Allen, tweeted, “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,” Self added.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, tweeted, “Tonight, families in Allen are waiting to hear from their loved ones after another mass shooting in Texas. As we wait for more updates, my prayers are with the community and those affected.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, tweeted, “More senseless violence near Dallas today. Something has to change!”
Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, tweeted, “Children’s bodies stacked on a sidewalk. A child’s face blown off. My God, what will it take for my @GOP colleagues to join us and finally act? I’m keeping the Allen community in prayers. And I also pray that my country demands change.”
1h ago / 5:55 PM UTC
FBI assisting with investigation of Allen Premium Outlets shooting
The FBI is assisting with the investigation into the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, according to a spokesperson from the agency’s Dallas field office.
“FBI Dallas would like to extend our condolences to the victims as well as their families and friends who were affected by the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets,” the field office said in a statement shared by spokesperson Melinda Urbina. “FBI Dallas is devoting all available resources to include investigative, intelligence, digital forensics, and victim services personnel among others.”
The Texas Department of Safety is the lead agency investigating the Saturday shooting. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allen Police Department are also assisting with the investigation.
2h ago / 5:23 PM UTC
House Democratic leaders respond to Allen, Texas, mall shooting
House Democratic leaders took to social media Sunday to respond to the Texas mass shooting. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, tweeted: “Children are being slaughtered throughout America. Extreme MAGA Republicans want to ban books. President Biden and House Dems are working hard to ban weapons of war.”
Former House Majority Leader Nancy of California tweeted: “Sickened by the mass shooting in Allen that terrorized families spending their afternoon at the mall. Our prayers are with the beautiful souls stolen, the victims wounded and their devastated loved ones, and we salute the heroic first responders. We must stop the bloodshed.”
2h ago / 5:10 PM UTC
Biden statement on Allen, Texas, shooting: ‘Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar’
President Joe Biden issued a statement on the shooting that left eight victims dead, calling it “the latest act of gun violence to devastate our nation.”
“Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar,” Biden said in the statement. “And yet, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts. More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, credible estimates show. The leading cause of death for American kids is gun violence.”
Biden asked Congress to send him a bill that would ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, enact universal background checks, require safe storage and end immunity for gun manufacturers.
“I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe,” he said.
Biden also took aim at Republicans in Congress, saying they “cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug” and “tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
Biden has directed federal agencies to provide “all needed support” to agencies working on investigating the shooting, he added.
4h ago / 3:33 PM UTC
H&M says all Allen Premium Outlets employees are ‘safe and accounted for’
H&M released a statement Sunday saying it’s “extremely saddened” about the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets that affected one of its locations.
“All the H&M employees are safe and accounted for, and counseling will be available to anyone that requires,” the statement read. H&M will remain closed today.
4h ago / 3:28 PM UTC
Allen outlet employee recalls shocking aftermath
Rama Bataineh was taking her lunch break when the shooting erupted.
The 20-year-old Coach employee attempted to seek shelter in her car, but it was locked. She then called her store manager, who opened a back door that she entered.
“I went inside and all the customers, all the employees, everyone was in the back sitting on the floor. Everyone was terrified,” Bataineh said.
When the shooting stopped, cops escorted the group outside, where Bataineh encountered a macabre scene.
“I saw a body, there was a guy in front of me. I didn’t sleep all night. I’d wake up and throw up,” she said.
4h ago / 3:02 PM UTC
Community prayer service to be held at Texas church
There will be a community prayer service at a church in Allen on Sunday.
The service will be held at the Cottonwood Creek Church at 5 p.m., according to a Facebook post.
The church is located about seven minutes away from Allen Premium Outlets, where a gunman opened fire on Saturday, killing at least 8 people.
4h ago / 3:01 PM UTC
What to know about the Allen Premium Outlets
The Allen Premium Outlets is a sprawling shopping center roughly 30 minutes outside Dallas. The mall encompasses 124 apparel stores as well as six chain restaurants, including Starbucks, according to a directory on the mall’s website.
The outlets are owned by Simon Property Group, a large real estate investment trust that has more than 200 shopping mall properties worldwide.
The homepage of the outlet mall’s website on Sunday included a message about the massacre.
“We are horrified by the senseless tragedy at Allen Premium Outlets and are outraged by the violence that continues to plague our country,” said the message, written in white text against a black background.
4h ago / 2:44 PM UTC
Biden orders flags to half-staff
President Joe Biden ordered federal flags to fly at half-staff out of respect for the victims of the Allen, Texas, shooting.
Nine people, including the shooter, were killed at a Dallas-area outlet mall Saturday night. Biden called the shootings “senseless acts of violence.”
Flags will be lowered to half-staff at all the United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and military and naval facilities, among other facilities abroad.
4h ago / 2:39 PM UTC
Texas congressman suggests prayers are a solution for mass shootings
Rep. Keith Self — the Republican lawmaker who represents the district that includes the Allen area — drew criticism on social media after appearing to dismiss renewed calls for gun control in the wake of the outlet mall shooting.
The people demanding gun control, rather than strictly offering thoughts and prayers, “don’t believe in an almighty God … who is absolutely in control of our lives,” Self said on CNN.
“People want to make this political, but prayers are important,” he said.
The comments were widely criticized by progressive political commentators and prominent advocates for gun control measures.
5h ago / 2:21 PM UTC
Allen killings mark 7th mass shooting in Texas since Uvalde massacre
Texas has been rocked by seven mass shootings since a gunman killed 21 people at an elementary school in the city of Uvalde in May 2022, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
In the 12 months since the Uvalde massacre, mass shootings have occurred in the Texas cities of Centerville, Houston, McGregor, Fort Worth, Dallas, Cleveland and now Allen, where a gunman opened fire Saturday at an outlet shopping mall, according to the database.
In each shooting, at least four people were killed, the data shows. The death toll in Allen is the highest since the Uvalde killings, with eight people killed.
5h ago / 1:55 PM UTC
Gov. Abbott, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz react to the bloodshed
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement late Saturday calling the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.” He said the hearts of Texans are with the people of Allen.
Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas expressed their condolences:
Cruz opposes gun control measures, including a ban on assault weapons. Cornyn was the lead sponsor on a bill last year that made modest changes to federal gun control regulations. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in June; Cruz voted against the legislation.
5h ago / 1:55 PM UTC
5h ago / 1:55 PM UTC
Witness describes sound of gunfire, sight of bodies
Fontayne Payton was browsing at the H&M clothing store in the outlet mall when he heard the piercing sound of gunshots through his headphones.
“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton, 35, told The Associated Press.
Employees at the store took shoppers into fitting rooms and then a back room with a door that locked, Payton told the AP. When the group was given the all-clear to leave, he saw broken windows and blood by the entrance.
When he got outside, he saw bodies.
“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he told the AP, recalling that white towels were draped over the bodies. “It broke me when I walked out to see that.”
