Nine people were killed, including the gunman, and at least seven others injured when a man opened fire at a Texas outdoor mall Saturday afternoon, according to authorities.
The gunman was one of seven people who died on scene at the Allen Premium Outlets, a mall north of Dallas, according to the Allen Police Department. Nine people were transferred to the hospital after the shooting, where two later died, three remain in critical condition, and four others were stable, Allen Fire Department Chief Jonathan Boyd said Saturday evening during a press conference.
In a statement after the tragedy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered “full support” to local officials.
“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abbott said
What happened?
More than three dozen shots were heard at around 3:36 p.m, alarming bystanders and an Allen Police Department officer that was near the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas.
Hundreds of shoppers fled the scene on Saturday after a gunman got out of a silver sedan before opening fire at the mall, causing families to seek safety in back hallways, behind cars and in storage areas. The gunman was killed by an Allen Police Department police officer shortly after. A photo obtained by CNN shows the suspect lying on the ground with an AR-15 and extra firearm magazines. The shooter has not been identified by authorities, but they believe he acted alone.
The names of the victims have not yet been released, though reports from witnesses allege that there were children, a police officer, and a mall security guard unconscious at the shopping center, AP reports.
“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” Fontayne Payton, a 35-year-old H&M worker told the AP. “It broke me when…
