A deadly shooting at a shopping mall in Allen, Texas has left eight people dead and at least seven others injured. According to authorities, the gunman opened fire outside the Allen Premium Outlets mall in the suburb north of Dallas, and was later fatally shot by a police officer. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey stated that the officer responded to the sound of gunfire and engaged the suspect, neutralizing him before calling for ambulances.
Allen Fire Department Chief Jon Boyd said that nine victims were taken to nearby hospitals, two of whom died at the hospital, while three others are in critical condition and four are stable. Medical City Healthcare, a hospital system in the Dallas area, said that it is treating eight individuals between the ages of 5 and 61.
TV aerial images showed hundreds of people calmly walking out of the mall after the violence unfolded, with many raising their hands as dozens of police stood guard. The footage also showed blood on sidewalks outside the mall and white sheets covering what appeared to be bodies.
Witness Fontayne Payton, who was in the H&M store at the time of the shooting, said that he heard gunshots and saw bodies once he left the store. He added that discarded sandals and bloodied clothes were scattered nearby. Another witness, who was not identified, told local ABC affiliate WFAA TV that the gunman was walking down the sidewalk, shooting his gun outside.
The White House stated that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting, and that the administration has offered support to local officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy” and stated that the state is prepared to offer any assistance local authorities may need.
This latest shooting adds to the growing number of mass shootings in the United States, with at least 198 recorded so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The US has the highest rate of gun deaths of any developed country, with 49,000 recorded in 2021, up from 45,000 the year before.
