What is the Right Wing Death Squad as RWDS and Nazi tattoos are found on shooter Mauricio Garcia in viral photos

What is the Right Wing Death Squad as RWDS and Nazi tattoos are found on shooter Mauricio Garcia in viral photos

Mauricio Garcia, a 33-year-old man, has been identified as the suspect in the recent mass shooting at Allen Outlet Mall in Northern Dallas, know what is the Right Wing Death squad as his tattoos photos go viral on Twitter

The incident resulted in nine deaths, including the shooter’s, and several injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are looking into Garcia’s possible white supremacist and neo-Nazi affiliations.

What is the Right Wing Death Squad as RWDS and Nazi tattoos are found on shooter Mauricio Garcia in viral photos on Twitter

Marucio Garcia, the 33-year-old gunman who killed at least eight people at a Dallas-area mall Saturday, was wearing a patch that read “RWDS”—short for “Ring Wing Death Squad”—a phrase dating back to the 1970s that investigators say has become popular among right-wing extremist groups in recently.

The phrase originated during Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet’s regime in the 1970s and 1980s, when his right-wing government would assemble death squads to kill Pinochet’s liberal opponents Patches and stickers with “RWDS” emerged during the mid-2010s, according to the Anti-Defamation League, as the phrase was seen during a “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

Several reports suggest that Garcia was wearing a ‘Right Wing Death Squad’ RWDS patch, leading to questions about his motivation. The shooting occurred on Saturday, May 7, at around 4:30 p.m.

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According to eyewitnesses, Mauricio Garcia got down from his vehicle in the mall’s parking lot and opened fire in front of an H&M store. He was later shot down by a police officer. A picture of the suspect lying dead was shared on social media.

One of the first theories to come up was from Garcia’s hand tattoo. Social media users suspected that he was from a Texas prison gang, affiliated to the cartel. Reports also suggested that he had a ‘Right Wing Death Squad’ (RWDS) patch on his chest.

Proud Boys Affiliation with RWDS patch raises concerns

Social media users pointed out that the same patch has also been worn by far-right group Proud Boys members. Journalist Alejandra Caraballo shared a picture of former Proud Boys member Jeremy Bertino wearing an RWDS patch. He and other group members, including leader Enrique Tarrio, were convicted for seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

Similar patch on Mauricio Garcia has raised concerns behind his shooting motives. “One of the Proud Boys who pled guilty to seditious conspiracy, Jeremy Bertino, wore the RWDS (right-wing death squad) patch that was found on the Allen, Texas shooter. It’s common among Proud Boys to wear it,” Caraballo wrote on Twitter.

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The RWDS patch has also been associated with other far-right extremist groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center has listed the symbol as an extremist symbol, linking it to the accelerationist and white supremacist movements.

Police investigating the Mauricio Garcia shooting incident

Authorities are also investigating whether Mauricio Garcia was a white supremacist and neo-Nazi, several media reports said. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the RWDS phrase is popular with right-wing extremists and white supremacists. Garcia’s motives have not been established yet.

The Rolling Stone, citing an FBI bulletin, reported that Mauricio Garcia posted pro-white supremacist and neo-Nazi material on social media. The shooting has once again raised concerns about the rising threat of far-right extremism in the United States. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reported a surge in white supremacist propaganda, including posters, stickers, and flyers, in recent years.

In a statement, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, called for urgent action to address the threat of far-right extremism. “We need a whole-of-society approach to combating extremism, including better monitoring of extremist groups and their activities, more resources for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes and extremist activity, and greater efforts to counter extremist propaganda and disinformation online,” he said.

Calls for strict gun control after Mauricio Garcia shooting incident

The shooting has also sparked calls for gun control measures. Texas has some of the most permissive gun laws in the country, allowing individuals to carry handguns in public places without a permit or training. The state also allows the open carry of long guns, such as rifles and shotguns.

President Biden, in a statement on Sunday, called for stricter gun laws after Mauricio Garcia shooting case. “We can’t just sit and wait for the next mass shooting to happen. We have to take action to prevent these senseless acts of violence,” he said.

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The investigation into the Mauricio Garcia shooting is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

ALSO READ: Mauricio Garcia Allen Mall Texas mass shooting video goes viral on Twitter and Reddit