Police have reported that a gunman shot and killed at least eight people at a busy Texas shopping mall and injured at least seven more.
The gunman got out of his vehicle and started firing in front of the Allen Premium Outlets Mall in Allen, a suburb of Dallas. This sent hundreds of shoppers running in fear.
Eyewitnesses told the local ABC affiliate WFAA TV that he was “walking along the sidewalk and just… firing his gun outside”.
He was mostly just firing his gun all over the place.
Maxwell Gum (16) was on his lunch hour at Wetzel’s Pretzels when a family of limited English speakers ran into his store and shouted “Gun!” Shoot!” As the sound of gunfire was heard in the background.
“300 people” poured into
The family was taken into the delivery corridor behind the stores of the mall, where they hoped to find safety, but instead found chaos.
The teenager stated that “there were probably 300 people coming in through all the doors.” “People are screaming, we can hear them.”
Authorities said that a policeman killed the gunman at the scene. The gunman is believed to be a lone shooter.
Allen Police posted on Facebook that the officer was on a call unrelated to this one when he heard gunshots at 3.36pm Saturday.
The officer neutralised the threat by engaging the suspect. The department posted that he then called emergency personnel.
‘Unspeakable tragedy’
Although there is no confirmation of the exact number of victims, witnesses have reported that they included children.
Others reported seeing what looked like a mall security officer and a policeman unconscious on the floor.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd stated that seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene. Nine victims were transported to hospital but two of them later died.
Mr Boyd stated that three of the injured were in critical conditions and four were in stable condition.
The attack was described as an “unspeakable tragedies” by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott has eased firearms restrictions in the wake of previous mass shootings.
In a press release, he said that the state is ready to provide any assistance needed by local authorities.
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