Several Fatalities, Nine Injured In Texas Mall Shooting

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

DALLAS, USA (Worthy News) – Witnesses say there were at least two fatalities in the shooting at a busy mall in the U.S. state of Texas where the gunman was killed.

NBC Dallas broadcaster quoted the witnesses as saying they saw two bodies covered by sheets on the sidewalk of the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas.

Additionally, at least nine people were injured in the shooting in which the gunman was killed, law enforcement authorities explained.

The gunman, who officials said likely acted alone, was killed by a police officer after he began firing outside the Allen Premium Outlets, the city’s police chief Brian Harvey told reporters.

A Collin County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said multiple victims, including children.

Saturday’s shooting began around 3:30 p.m. local time at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, witnesses said.

A police officer who was in the area on an unrelated call heard the gunshots at the mall and engaged the suspect, the Allen Police Department added.

BLACK DRESS

Witnesses told reporters that the gunman was dressed in black. Helicopter video also showed a silver car in the street in front of stores with its doors open and riddled with bullet holes.

“Law enforcement is on the scene at Allen Premium Outlets. An active investigation is underway. Please avoid the area until further update,” wrote the Allen Police Department on social media platform Twitter.

In a video posted to Twitter, people could be seen running through a car park with the sound of loud gunshots heard in the background.

Television footage from helicopters showed long lines of people being escorted away from the shops with their hands in the air.

“We were outside the Converse store, and we just heard all this popping,” eyewitness Elaine Penicaro, who was shopping with her daughter, told broadcaster Fox4.

“We kind of all just stopped, and then a second later, just ‘Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,’ and sparks were flying like it was right in front of us.”

‘UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY’

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that he was monitoring the situation.

“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas, tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” added Governor Abbott.

Allen Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall with more than 120 outlet stores, its website states. It is located around 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Dallas.

U.S. Representative Keith Self for Texas’s 3rd congressional district, which includes Collin County, expressed shock about the shooting. “We are devastated by the tragic news of the shootings at the Allen Premium Outlets today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and all law enforcement on the scene,” he tweeted.

“This is an ongoing situation, but Allen [Police Department] PD has full control of the scene. A shooter is down, and there are multiple casualties,” he added.

“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.”

There have been a series of mass shootings in the United States, and Saturday’s attack was expected to lead to more debates about the violence and many weapons in the nation.

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