Texas mall shooting – latest: Frenzied police audio reveals terror during outlet massacre
As a gunman opened fire on people shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, police scrambled to locate the suspect and subdue him.
Recently released audio from police revealed that the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, was still shooting when authorities arrived at the scene on Saturday (6 May).
Eight people, including three young children, died and seven others were injured after Garcia, 33, brought a stash of eight legally-purchased weapons to the mall to conduct the shooting.
The gunman had left signs he was planning an attack at the outlets on his digital footprint, specifically from his profile on a Russian website, which police confirmed on Tuesday belonged to him.
One of the posts, reviewed by The Independent, was a video, posted the day of the shooting, showing Garcia removing a Scream Ghostface mask saying, “Not quite what you were expecting, huh?”
The video appeared to be his final message among a trove of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities posted in the run-up to the massacre.
Key Points
Texas mall gunman is identified as Mauricio Garcia
What social media reveals about the Texas gunman
Texas gunman researched mall to find ‘peak’ visiting time
Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm
Audio from shooting reveals officers couldn’t see gunman
ICYMI: Authorities examining ideology of Texas gunman
Wednesday 10 May 2023 04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Law enforcement is looking into the ideology of 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia who killed eight people and injured seven others during a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday.
Garcia displayed “neo-Nazi ideation” Hank Sibley, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.
The gunman had tattoos of Nazi symbols and was found with a patch on his body armour that read “RWDS” an acronym for “Right Wing Death Squad” - a popular saying among right-wing extremists.
According to law enforcement, the FBI is investigating Garcia’s ideology by examining his electronic devices and interviewing Garcia’s family members.
Posts show Texas mall gunman researched attack for weeks
Wednesday 10 May 2023 06:00 , Ariana Baio
Posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping mall last weekend, killing eight people and wounding seven others.
Garcia, 33, researched when the mall in Allen was busiest — Saturday afternoons — and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack last Saturday, which ended with police killing him.
His online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary forces.
Elon Musk appears to entertain conspiracy theory that Texas shooting was a ‘psyop’
Wednesday 10 May 2023 06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.
Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right-wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop”.
“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.
Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”
Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of Texas mass shooting victims to circulate for hours
Wednesday 10 May 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio
In the days after a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, footage depicting the immediate and gruesome aftermath of the shooting began circulating on Twitter.
Unknowing Twitter users opened up the social media platform on Monday only to see a video depicting several victims lying on the ground covered in blood with some body parts visible.
Another video showed the gunman deceased, with blood coming from his body. Stills from the video were shared separately.
For hours, the footage haunted people’s “for you” feeds. Even those not seeking out the content stumbled across it.
Ariana Baio reports:
Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of shooting to circulate for hours
Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm
Wednesday 10 May 2023 08:00 , Ariana Baio
The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, brought eight weapons with him, police have confirmed in a press conference.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, the man law enforcement identified as the gunman, used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).
But according to police, Garcia had seven additional weapons.
“He had eight weapons with him,” Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, said on Tuesday.
Ariana Baio reports:
Texas mall gunman carried eight weapons to mass shooting, police confirm
Shooting victim hailed as hero for helping person to safety before he was killed
Wednesday 10 May 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio
Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.
Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.
Garcia murdered eight people at the outlet mall, including children, before police shot and killed him.
LaCour’s sister, Breanna Smith, remembered her brother in an interview with CNN.
“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” she said.
Elon Musk reacts to theories that gunman was a ‘psyop’
Wednesday 10 May 2023 10:00 , ariana.baio
Elon Musk appeared to entertain the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.
Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right-wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop.”
“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.
One profile reportedly belonging to the gunman, who police identified as Mauricio Garcia, shared extremist views about mass shootings and white supremacy. The same profile also praised Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account run by right-wing activist Chaya Raichik, which targets the LGBT+ community. Mr Musk frequently interacts with the Libs of TikTok Twitter account.
Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”
Texas mall shooting witness says he ‘loves guns’ but US needs to take action
Wednesday 10 May 2023 10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
A gun owner who rushed to the scene of the shooting in Allen, Texas, to help rescue victims has said it is time for the US to change its policies regarding semi-automatic weapons.
Steven Spainhouer drove to the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday evening after his son, who was working at an H&M store at the mall, texted him saying that there was an active shooting situation. Upon arriving at the scene of the carnage, Mr Spainhoeur told CBS that he found children covered in blood from head to toe, including a little girl whose face had been blown out by bullets from the AR-15-style rifle the gunman used to carry out the attack.
Eight people were killed before a police officer, who was at the scene responding to an unrelated call, managed to take down shooter Mauricio Garcia, 33.
In response to calls for “thoughts and prayers” from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other politicians, Mr Spainhouer told CNN those wishes fall short of addressing the concerning epidemic of gun violence in the US.
Mr Spainhouer, a former police officer and self-proclaimed gun lover, noted that regulations in the purchase of semi-automatic rifles, such as the one used in the latest gun massacre in America, have never been of more importance.
“We used to have a ban on assault weapons nationally,” Mr Spainhouer told the network, likely referencing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. “We can do that at the state level. We can put red flags in place. we can limit high-capacity rounds. We can stop putting weapons like the AR-15 in the hands of people that don’t need them.”
Shooting only lasted 3-4 minutes
Wednesday 10 May 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio
Law enforcement said that the mass shooting that took place in Allen, Texas on Saturday (6 May) only lasted 3-4 minutes.
Eight people died and seven others were injured in the short amount of time the gunman was on the loose.
Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said on Tuesday in a press conference that they estimated the shooting only lasted a few minutes before a police officer shot Garica.
Texas mall shooting victim Christian LaCour hailed as a hero for helping person to safety before he was killed
Wednesday 10 May 2023 11:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.
Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.
Garcia murdered eight people at the outlet mall, including children, before police shot and killed him.
LaCour’s sister, Breanna Smith, remembered her brother in an interview with CNN.
“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” she said.
Mass shooter allegedly had tattoo of swastika
Wednesday 10 May 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio
The gunman who killed eight people allegedly had a tattoo of a swastika, according to an image posted on the gunman’s supposed ok.ru profile.
Authorities investigating the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, said the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, may have had ties to far-right-wing groups, white supremacy and neo-Nazism.
A profile that seems to match Garica from the Russian website, ok.ru, had posted photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.
Texas mall gunman was terminated from US Army training due to mental health concerns
Wednesday 10 May 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio
The Texas man who killed eight people while carrying out a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May) was terminated from the US Army training in 2008 due to a physical or mental health concern according to the US Army.
The shooter, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, entered the regular army in 2008 but was terminated three months later according to a statement provided to The Independent by Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman.
“Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards,” Ms Hagan said.
She added that the Army does not provide characterisation of the discharge of any soldier.
However, an Army Official noted that Garcia was “separated” under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200 paragraph 5-17, “other designated physical or mental conditions”.
Elon Musk appears to entertain conspiracy theory that Texas shooting was a ‘psyop’
Wednesday 10 May 2023 13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.
Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right-wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop”.
“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.
Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”
America’s red state gun violence epidemic
Wednesday 10 May 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio
Gun violence isn’t just in big cities like Los Angeles or Chicago.
As The Independent reported last year, red states and rural areas struggle just as much with shootings. In some ways, the violence there is actually worse.
Get all the details in our full story.
GOP says gun violence mostly happens in Democratic cities – the figures disagree
Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from weekend of horror
Wednesday 10 May 2023 14:30 , Ariana Baio
An active shooter attacked an outlet mall near Dallas on Saturday afternoon, killing eight before being shot dead himself by an Allen cop. The following morning, 570 miles south, a car plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, killing eight more. Then, eight hours later, a dispute on a Dallas Dart train led to another deadly shooting.
Sheila Flynn reports:
Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence
Father killed in shooting ‘loved being a dad'
Wednesday 10 May 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio
Kyu Cho, one of the victims of the Texas mass shooting was the father to two children, William, 6, and James, 3, as well as the husband to Cindy Cho.
Mr Cho, his wife Cindy Cho and their son James were all shot dead after a gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).
The only survivor of the Cho family is six-year-old William who no longer has parents or a younger brother.
Brian Aniki, Mr Cho’s friend, mentor and taekwondo teacher from his college days told NBC News that Mr Cho “loved being a dad”.
Mr Cho’s other friends from college attested to his bright personality, caring nature and love for family.
Grace Ghang a friend of Mr Cho’s who went to law school with him at Ave Maria School of Law said they last spoke in 2021 when they tried to arrange for a playdate for their children.
“We concluded our messaging by saying we would love to get together sometime since both of us now live in Texas, and I really was planning on trying to make a trip sometime to Dallas to try and catch up with him,” Ms Ghang told NBC News. “But now that opportunity is lost.”
Fake fundraisers circulate online
Wednesday 10 May 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio
Several fake fundraisers have arisen online claiming to raise money for the victims and survivors of the Allen mass shooting.
“We are aware of multiple fake online fundraisers that are currently underway for the victims,” said Chad Yarbrough, special agent-in-charge for FBI Dallas said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Verified fundraisers can be found on the Allen Texas GoFundMe page.
Over $20,000 raised for victim of shooting
Wednesday 10 May 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio
A GoFundMe benefitting the family of 20-year-old Christian LaCour has raised over $20,000 as of Wednesday (10 May).
Mr LaCour was one of eight people to be shot dead by a gunman who opened fire on shoppers and employees at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).
“Christian was a sweet and kind young man whose family mourns his loss. This GoFundMe is being created to help the family,” The GoFundMe description reads.
Mr LaCour was shot dead after evacuating a shopper to safety.
Allen Premium Outlets remains closed until further notice
Wednesday 10 May 2023 16:30 , Ariana Baio
The Allen Premium Outlets indicated to shoppers that they will remain ‘closed until further notice’ following a horrific shooting that left eight people dead and seven injured.
On the mall’s website they wrote they are “horrified by the senseless tragedy” and “outraged by the violence that continues to plague our country.”
They thanked law enforcement and first responder’s actions and efforts to save members of the community.
“Allen Premium Outlets remains closed until further notice,” they wrote.
Texas mall gunman Mauricio Garcia’s white supremacist social media footprint
Wednesday 10 May 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio
A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.
The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.
Alex Woodward reports:
Texas shooter Mauricio Garcia’s alleged soical media posts reveal Nazi images
Pentagon reiterated gunman was “not a veteran"
Wednesday 10 May 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio
Mauricio Garcia, the gunman who killed eight people and injured seven more at a shooting in Allen, Texas, spent some time in the US military but never completed basic training- making him ineligible to be considered a veteran.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig Gen Pat Ryder told Military Times that Garica is “not a veteran.”
“According to federal regulations, this individual, in terms of the time of service, would not qualify as a veteran,” Mr Ryder said.
Garcia enlisted in the US Army in 2008 but was terminated after three months due to his mental or physical health, an Army Official told The Independent.
Garcia did not complete basic training, therefore was never an active member.
A veteran is classified as “a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable,” according to the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
Mauricio Garcia: Everything we know about the Texas mall gunman
Wednesday 10 May 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio
A gunman clad in black body armour and armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle opened fire at a Texas mall on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring seven others.
The suspect was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, a security guard and former US Army trainee.
The Independent reports:
Mauricio Garcia: What we know about the Texas mall gunman who killed eight
Shooting only lasted 3-4 minutes
Wednesday 10 May 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio
Authorities said that the mass shooting that took place in Allen, Texas on Saturday (6 May) only lasted 3-4 minutes.
Eight people died and seven others were injured in the short amount of time the gunman was on the loose.
Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said on Tuesday in a press conference that they estimated the shooting only lasted a few minutes before a police officer shot Garica.
Chilling website shows number of days without a mass shooting in Texas
Wednesday 10 May 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio
A website called dwamstx.com has a live counter that shows how many days it has been since Texas had a mass shooting and how many times the counter has been reset.
As of Wednesday morning, there had been three days since the last mass shooting in Allen on Saturday.
Since last week, the counter has been reset once and since last year, it has been reset 34 times.
It has counted 281 casualties in Texas due to mass shootings.
The meaning behind the “RWDS” patch that gunman wore
Wednesday 10 May 2023 19:30 , ariana.baio
After killing eight people and injuring seven others in a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, gunman Mauricio Garcia was shot dead by a police officer at the scene.
Authorities identified Garcia was wearing a patch on his body armour that had the acronym “RWDS” which stands for “Right Wing Death Squad”.
The acronym is popular among far-right groups like The Proud Boys. It was seen among participants at the 2017 “United the Right” rally in Charlottesville.
This is Jeremy Bertino, one of the Proud Boys who just pled guilty to seditious conspiracy on January 6. See the patch he’s wearing that says “RWDS” (Right Wing Death Squad)?
The Allen, Texas mass shooter was wearing the same patch. pic.twitter.com/oFSxmKaXIm— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) May 7, 2023
“It has really become something over the past couple years that has cut across and far beyond any individual group,” said Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University told Associated Press
WATCH: Authorities host press conference on shooting
Wednesday 10 May 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio
Arizona Cardinals quarterback donates $15k to Cho family
Wednesday 10 May 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray donated $15,000 to William Cho, the six-year-old boy who is the only survivor in his immediate family of the Allen outlets mass shooting.
Mr Murray tweeted on Saturday (6 May), the day of the shooting, “This is sickening. Prayers to the mass shooting victims in Allen, Texas. If there is anyway I can help those affected by this tragedy please let me know. When is this s*** gonna stop?”
On the GoFundMe page for the Cho family, Mr Murray’s name was listed as one of the top donors.
.@K1 donates to William Cho after the tragic loss of his family in Allen Texas on Saturday. 💔 pic.twitter.com/KIHKxgvThE
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 10, 2023
What we know about the victim: Elio Cumana-Rivas
Wednesday 10 May 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio
The eighth victim identified in the Allen Premium Outlets mass shooting, Elio Cumana-Rivas was a father and son who was working as a delivery driver, according to NBC DFW.
Mr Cumana-Rivas’ father, Santos Cumana, told the news outlet that his son came to the United States to save for a better future for his 11-year-old daughter who is back in Venezuela.
“There are conversations that say Venezuela is not safe,” Mr Cumana said. “Then you come to the United States and you’re killed in a mall by a crazy person with a gun.”
Mr Cumana said his son sent him a video showing him working as a delivery driver the day before the shooting.
Texas mall shooting victim Christian LaCour hailed as a hero for helping person to safety before he was killed
Wednesday 10 May 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio
Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.
Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.
Graig Graziosi reports:
Texas mall shooting victim remembered for heroic final act
Texas mall shooting witness says he ‘loves guns’ but US needs to take action
Wednesday 10 May 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio
A gun owner who rushed to the scene of the shooting in Allen, Texas, to help rescue victims has said it is time for the US to change its policies regarding semi-automatic weapons.
Steven Spainhouer drove to the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday evening after his son, who was working at an H&M store at the mall, texted him saying that there was an active shooting situation. Upon arriving at the scene of the carnage, Mr Spainhoeur told CBS that he found children covered in blood from head to toe, including a little girl whose face had been blown out by bullets from the AR-15-style rifle the gunman used to carry out the attack.
Eight people were killed before a police officer, who was at the scene responding to an unrelated call, managed to take down shooter Mauricio Garcia, 33.
In response to calls for “thoughts and prayers” from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other politicians, Mr Spainhouer told CNN those wishes fall short of addressing the concerning epidemic of gun violence in the US.
Mr Spainhouer, a former police officer and self-proclaimed gun lover, noted that regulations in the purchase of semi-automatic rifles, such as the one used in the latest gun massacre in America, have never been of more importance.
“We used to have a ban on assault weapons nationally,” Mr Spainhouer told the network, likely referencing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. “We can do that at the state level. We can put red flags in place. we can limit high-capacity rounds. We can stop putting weapons like the AR-15 in the hands of people that don’t need them.”
Posts show Texas mall gunman researched attack for weeks
Wednesday 10 May 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio
Posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping mall last weekend, killing eight people and wounding seven others.
Garcia, 33, researched when the mall in Allen was busiest — Saturday afternoons — and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack last Saturday, which ended with police killing him.
His online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary forces.
Gunman posted chilling video of Scream mask before mass shooting
Wednesday 10 May 2023 23:00 , ariana.baio
The Texas mall gunman posted a chilling video online of himself in a Scream mask moments before he murdered eight victims in a mass shooting.
On Saturday (6 May), Mauricio Garcia posted the video showing himself removing the mask and asking: “Not quite what you were expecting, huh?”
The video appeared to be his final message among a trove of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities posted in the run-up to the massacre.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that the online account, which was reviewed by The Independent, belonged to Garcia.
Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm
Thursday 11 May 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio
The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, brought eight weapons with him, police have confirmed in a press conference.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, the man law enforcement identified as the gunman, used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).
But according to police, Garcia had seven additional weapons.
“He had eight weapons with him,” Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, said on Tuesday.
Ariana Baio reports:
Texas mall gunman carried eight weapons to mass shooting, police confirm
Victims of the Texas mall shooting – everything we know
01:00 , Ariana Baio
A three-year-old boy, two elementary-age sisters, a young engineer from India and a mall worker are among the eight people killed in last weekend’s horror mass shooting in Allen, Texas.
The Independent reports:
What we know about victims of Texas outlet mall shooting
Texas mall gunman scheduled creepy Scream mask video to upload on day he committed mass shooting
02:00 , Ariana Baio
On the day of a mass shooting at a Texas mall that left eight people dead and seven others injured, a video of the suspected gunman removing a mask of the Scream character Ghostface appeared on YouTube.
The video, which was uploaded on Saturday (6 May), features a man starring into a camera, removing the Scream mask, then saying: “Not quite what you what expecting, huh?”
The Independent reports:
Texas mall gunman scheduled creepy Scream mask video to post on day of shooting
What we know about the victim: Elio Cumana-Rivas
03:00 , Ariana Baio
The eighth victim identified in the Allen Premium Outlets mass shooting, Elio Cumana-Rivas was a father and son who was working as a delivery driver, according to NBC DFW.
Mr Cumana-Rivas’ father, Santos Cumana, told the news outlet that his son came to the United States to save for a better future for his 11-year-old daughter who is back in Venezuela.
“There are conversations that say Venezuela is not safe,” Mr Cumana said. “Then you come to the United States and you’re killed in a mall by a crazy person with a gun.”
Mr Cumana said his son sent him a video showing him working as a delivery driver the day before the shooting.
Allen Premium Outlets remains closed until further notice
04:00 , Ariana Baio
The Allen Premium Outlets indicated to shoppers that they will remain ‘closed until further notice’ following a horrific shooting that left eight people dead and seven injured.
On the mall’s website they wrote they are “horrified by the senseless tragedy” and “outraged by the violence that continues to plague our country.”
They thanked law enforcement and first responder’s actions and efforts to save members of the community.
“Allen Premium Outlets remains closed until further notice,” they wrote.
Texas mall shooting victim Christian LaCour hailed as a hero for helping person to safety before he was killed
05:00 , Ariana Baio
Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.
Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.
Garcia murdered eight people at the outlet mall, including children, before police shot and killed him.
LaCour’s sister, Breanna Smith, remembered her brother in an interview with CNN.
“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” she said.
Mass shooter allegedly had tattoo of swastika
06:00 , Ariana Baio
The gunman who killed eight people allegedly had a tattoo of a swastika, according to an image posted on the gunman’s supposed ok.ru profile.
Authorities investigating the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, said the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, may have had ties to far-right-wing groups, white supremacy and neo-Nazism.
A profile that seems to match Garica from the Russian website, ok.ru, had posted photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.
Fake fundraisers circulate online
07:00 , Ariana Baio
Several fake fundraisers have arisen online claiming to raise money for the victims and survivors of the Allen mass shooting.
“We are aware of multiple fake online fundraisers that are currently underway for the victims,” said Chad Yarbrough, special agent-in-charge for FBI Dallas said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Verified fundraisers can be found on the Allen Texas GoFundMe page.
Father killed in shooting ‘loved being a dad'
08:00 , Ariana Baio
Kyu Cho, one of the victims of the Texas mass shooting was the father to two children, William, 6, and James, 3, as well as the husband to Cindy Cho.
Mr Cho, his wife Cindy Cho and their son James were all shot dead after a gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).
The only survivor of the Cho family is six-year-old William who no longer has parents or a younger brother.
Brian Aniki, Mr Cho’s friend, mentor and taekwondo teacher from his college days told NBC News that Mr Cho “loved being a dad”.
Mr Cho’s other friends from college attested to his bright personality, caring nature and love for family.
Grace Ghang a friend of Mr Cho’s who went to law school with him at Ave Maria School of Law said they last spoke in 2021 when they tried to arrange for a playdate for their children.
“We concluded our messaging by saying we would love to get together sometime since both of us now live in Texas, and I really was planning on trying to make a trip sometime to Dallas to try and catch up with him,” Ms Ghang told NBC News. “But now that opportunity is lost.”
GoFundMe releases list of official funds
09:00 , Ariana Baio
GoFundMe has compiled a list of the official donation websites for the families of the victims affected by the mass shooting.
The Allen, TX Victims’ Fund, organised by Victims’ Fund, benefits the families of victims 100 per cent. It is the same organisation that collected donations for the families of the Uvlade, TX victims.
The Irvin Walker II Fund is seeking donations from people to help Irvin Walker, a man who was shot twice during the shooting. Mr Walker II survived but has “a long road to recovery”. The money raised will go toward paying for medical and personal expenses.
The Cho Family Fund is raising money for William Cho, the six-year-old boy who is the only person in his immediate family who survived the shooting. William’s parents, Cindy and Kyu, as well as his three-year-old brother James died.
The Mendoza Family Fund is seeking donations to help support the Mendoza family who lost their 11-year-old daughter Daniela and 8-year-old daughter Sofia in the tragic shooting. The girls’ mother was also shot and is currently in the hospital.
The LaCour Family Fund is asking for donations to “offset some of the financial burden” from 20-year-old Christian LaCour’s death. LaCour’s father is managing the fundraiser.
Firearms used in mass shooting were obtained legally
10:00 , Ariana Baio
The gunman who used an AR-15-style rifle in a mass shooting on Saturday (6 May) obtained the gun legally, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Mr Sibley said the gunman, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, obtained all eight of the weapons he arrived to Allen Premium Outlets with legally
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran traces on all of the weapons to determine this.
Garcia did not have a criminal record and worked in security before the shooting occurred.
GoFundMe tops $1m for boy, 6, who lost entire family in Allen mall mass shooting
11:00 , ariana.baio
A GoFundMe campaign has topped $1m for a six-year-old boy who was the only member of a family to survive the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas.
Rachel Sharp reports:
GoFundMe tops $1m for boy, 6, who lost entire family in Allen mall mass shooting
Audio from shooting reveals officers couldn’t see gunman
11:50 , Independent Staff
Recently released police audio from the scene of the shooting had revealed officers arrived while the gunman was still shooting but originally couldn’t see the suspect.
“I’m trying to get to him,” an officer said over radio to the police dispatcher, according to audio obtained by the Dallas Morning News. “They’re still shooting.”
Another officer added: “By Tommy Hilfiger. I don’t know where he’s at,” sounding breathless as he attempted to locate the gunman.
FBI investigating gunman’s electronic devices
12:00 , Ariana Baio
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the gunman, Mauricio Garcia’s, electronic devices, police revealed in a press conference on Tuesday.
As authorities work to determine a motive behind the shooting, the FBI will be investigating Garcia’s online presence.
Hank Sibley, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Garcia displayed “neo-Nazi ideation” as he had a tattoo of a swastika and “his signature” indicated he had ideas about neo-Nazism.
A profile on the Russian website ok.ru that seemingly belonged to Garcia gave a peak into the gunman’s thinking as he posted praise for Adolf Hitler, photos of Nazi symbols and more in posts seen by The Independent.
Shooter allegedly said ‘I’ll take my chances’ with white supremacy
12:46 , Independent Staff
A string of online posts believed to have been shared by gunman Mauricio Garcia showed an obsession with white supremacy.
In one such post, reported by AP, Garcia had posted an image of a Latino child in front of a form in the road - one fork pointing towards the words “act Black”, the other towards the words “become a white supremacist”.
He had written underneath the drawing: “I think I’ll take my chances with the white supremacist.”
As well as sharing racist, white-supremacist ideas, Garcia had also shared misogynistic messages.
Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of Texas mass shooting victims to circulate for hours
13:00 , Ariana Baio
In the days after a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, footage depicting the immediate and gruesome aftermath of the shooting began circulating on Twitter.
Unknowing Twitter users opened up the social media platform on Monday only to see a video depicting several victims lying on the ground covered in blood with some body parts visible.
Another video showed the gunman deceased, with blood coming from his body. Stills from the video were shared separately.
For hours, the footage haunted people’s “for you” feeds. Even those not seeking out the content stumbled across it.
Ariana Baio reports:
Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of shooting to circulate for hours
WATCH: Texas mall shooting survivor speak about worker who saved shoppers
14:00 , Ariana Baio
Audio reveals moment officer made frantic request for backup moments before taking down Texas mall shooter
14:30 , Ariana Baio
Just moments before taking the suspect down, a police officer could be heard saying that he “needed everybody I got” in an internal police radio call released on Sunday, the Daily Mail reported. Two minutes after that call, the officer said: “I got him down.”
Hundreds of mall-goers could be seen trying to flee the scene after the gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style gun around 3.30pm local time. Aerial footage from local news stations showed the devastating scene at the parking lot as dead bodies, including those of children, were covered in sheets.
Andrea Blanco and Graeme Massie report:
Moment officer makes frantic request for backup before taking down Texas mall shooter
