A shooting incident at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, US, left eight people dead and seven wounded on Saturday, according to reports by AP and AFP. The shooter was also gunned down by the police. Emergency officials confirmed fatalities and transported nine victims to area trauma facilities.
The police officer, who was on an unrelated call in the mall, heard the gunshots around 3:30 pm (local time), said Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey. “He heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect, and neutralized the suspect,” Harvey said. “He also then called for ambulances.”
The shooter was believed to be acting alone and is now “dead”, as authorities confirm. A Dallas-area medical group said it was treating victims as young as five years old.
Aerial footage of the incident site showed at least three bodies covered by sheets outside the mall, according to CNN. The police searched for another gunman responding to the afternoon shooting at Allen Premium Outlets but later said they believed the shooter acted alone. A police officer killed the shooter.
Shoppers and employees hid under storage areas as soon as they heard the gunshots. A witness told CNN that he saw a man holding his neck and “blood (was) just dripping down.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the mass shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.” The City of Allen tweeted: “Our hearts are with the individuals and families impacted by this tragic event.”
Tony Wright, a resident whose home backs up to the Allen Premium Outlets, said his family thought they heard construction before they realized it was gunshots.