Eight people has been confirmed dead as a man opened fire at a shopping mall in Allen, Texas on Saturday afternoon. Seven people were wounded before the suspect was shot dead by law enforcement in the in the US city in the state of Texas.
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According to a video and photos shared on social media, the shooter was male and wore black clothes and sunglasses during the attack. CNN reported that he appeared to be armed with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle with several magazines, and was wearing body armor.
The Allen Police Department in a statement said that an officer while responding to an unrelated call heard gunshots, and that “the officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat.”
.@ATFDallas ATF personnel are responding to the active shooter incident at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, TX. Allen Police Department is the point of contact and will release more information as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/ntQXLIK4bs
— ATF Dallas (@ATFDallas) May 6, 2023
The attack took place at Allen Premium Outlets, a large shopping center in the city, a northern suburb of Dallas.
Allen Fire Department chief Jonathan Boyd reported that four of the injured victims are stable, while three are still in critical condition. Nine people have died in total to include the suspected shooter – seven at the scene, and two who later succumbed to their injuries.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement expressing his condolences and affirming that the state will provide resources to local officials.
“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abbott said in the statement. “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.”
The tragedy comes a week after a man fatally shot five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas. The suspect was captured after a four-day manhunt.
In March, a mass shooting took place at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, where six people were killed. The police shot the assailant after arriving on the scene.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
