Shooting at Texas mall: Eight people died and seven were hospitalized with injuries, three of them critical, in a shooting at an outdoor outlet mall in Texas on Saturday. Seven people were found dead at the scene, including the alleged gunman after a confrontation with police, authorities said.
The hospitalized victims are un the age range from 5 to 61 years old, officials said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, a northern suburb of Dallas.
“This is a tragedy. People will be looking for answers,” Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey confirmed during a press briefing . “We’re sorry that those families are experiencing that loss.”
Shooting at 3.36 pm
An officer who was at the outlet mall on an unrelated call, responded to the shooting around 3:36 p.m., Harvey said.
“He heard gunshots, went to the gunshots engaged the suspect and neutralized the suspect,” Harvey said.
The police chief said they believed the male shooter acted alone. “We don’t believe that there’s another threat at this time,” Harvey said.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting, according to a White House official.
White House monitoring situation
“The White House is closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with law enforcement and local officials to offer support,” the official said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement, saying he has 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.”
“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abbott said.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz said that he and his wife were praying for the families of the shooting and has been in contact with local officials.
“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,” he tweeted.
Residents asked to avoid area
Police have asked residents to avoid the area amid the investigation.
Aerial footage from the scene showed shoppers being evacuated from the stores, many with their arms raised in the air.
Witness Cole Korchek who was shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets with his mother, said he heard what sounded like 10 pops and dismissed it as construction work until another 10-15 pops were heard. That is when he looked outside the front of the store and saw “a guy dressed in all black” wearing a vest and “shooting at people” with an assault rifle. He then ran and helped customers in the store to the back.
Jaynal Pervez told reporters at the scene that his daughter works at the mall and texted him and her mother that there was a shooting and she’s “surrounded by the police.”
“She said, ‘Daddy, I love you,'” Pervez said.
“This is not what a typical Saturday one would expect living in places like in Allen,” he added.
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