On Saturday, May 6th, a shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas left at least nine people dead and several others injured with the shooter at the mall identified as Mauricio Garcia
In the aftermath of the Allen Premium Outlets tragedy, investigators have been working to identify the shooter and determine a motive. Here’s what we know so far.
Who is Mauricio Garcia Allen Mall Texas shooting shooter, bio, age, nationality, photo and motive
The suspect in Saturdayโs mass shooting in Allen, Texas, was identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, a senior law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN as eight people were killed and at least seven others were wounded from the massacre in the affluent suburb of Allen, about 25 miles north of Dallas.
๐จ BREAKING: Allen, TX shooter that killed 9 and injured 7 at a shopping mall identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia.
The victims range from 5 to 61 years old.
Reports of the shooter have been circulating that the shooter was an illegal immigrant, but I CANNOT confirm this pic.twitter.com/txGfZed3Uq
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 7, 2023
Looks like authorities searched a home on Piper lane in Dallas Texas related to the Mass Shooting @ Allen Premium Outlets.
A convicted criminal named Christian Garcia lives @ that address.
Another person named Mauricio Garcia lives there too. pic.twitter.com/KCQaYSiRix— JLRยฉ (@JLRINVESTIGATES) May 7, 2023
A photo shows what appears to be the gunman lying on the ground after being shot, with an AR-15-style firearm nearby and he is clad in black body armor and appears to have several extra magazines strapped in his chest gear.
In addition to the AR-15-style weapon found near him, Garcia had at least one other weapon on him when he was fatally shot in front of the mall, the senior law enforcement source said and police also found multiple weapons in his car.
Garcia underwent firearms proficiency training for his work as a commissioned security officer, according to the Texas Online Private Security database, which is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety and was approved to work as a security guard in Texas from April 2016 until April 2020, when his license expired, according to the database. His profile shows he worked for three security companies.
After the shooting incident, FBI agents and Dallas police officers went to the suspected shooter’s residence in the Northeast patrol division of Dallas to conduct an investigation and interview family members.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the suspected shooter lived at the residence with his parents. Neighbors have described the suspect as a quiet and unassuming man who often wore a security guard uniform.
Federal agents have been going through the suspect’s belongings, computers, and phones in an effort to find any clues that might help them determine a motive for the shooting.
Neighbors of the suspected shooter have noted some unusual behaviors in the weeks leading up to the shooting. They say that the suspect drove a gray Charger that was usually parked outside his home but had not been seen in the area recently.
While he often wore a security guard uniform, they say they never saw him with any weapons. They describe him as a quiet and unassuming man who kept to himself but did exhibit some unusual and concerning behaviors.
Dallas Police Department computers down
While investigators work to piece together the events that led to the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, they are facing some challenges due to a ransomware attack on the Dallas Police Department’s computer system. The attack has made it difficult for officers to access any prior calls to the suspected shooter’s home, which could be helpful in determining a motive.
The shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets is a tragic reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States. While investigators work to determine a motive for the shooting, many are calling for action to address the underlying causes of gun violence.
This includes improving access to mental health services, addressing socioeconomic inequality, and implementing common-sense gun control measures.