Gunman in Allen Outlet Massacre Identified by Police

The Allen Premium Outlets were the target of a mass shooting on Saturday, leaving eight dead and several others injured. On the same day, authorities identified the suspect as Mauricio Garcia, 33, who, according to multiple reports, was a security guard. Witnesses claimed that he wore all-black attire and used an assault-style firearm, but no one reported ever seeing him with any weapon before. Some sources mentioned that Garcia may have had ties to white supremacist or neo-Nazi groups, as he was reportedly wearing a patch with the letters “RWDS,” which stands for “Right Wing Death Squad.”

On Sunday, the FBI and other law enforcement personnel searched a pair of locations believed to be places Garcia had lived recently, including a home in North Dallas and a motel. Authorities have not disclosed whether they found anything relevant to the shooting. The gunman was killed by a responding officer who was not part of the official response team, and initial reports suggesting the presence of a second shooter have been discarded, confirming that Garcia acted alone.

The victims’ identities and details have not yet been revealed. The seven people killed in addition to Garcia were already dead when the first responders arrived, and some eye witness accounts suggested that they ranged in age from five to sixty-one. The Federal officials have described the mass shooting as an act of senseless violence that will require significant efforts to prevent future incidents.

President Joe Biden took to Twitter to express his condolences and called on Congress to enact laws to prevent such tragedies in the future. He stated that the country needs to address the root causes of gun violence, such as mental health issues and domestic violence, as well as passing legislation related to background checks, safe storage, and banning the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Meanwhile, Ken Fulk, the mayor of Allen, received calls from Governor Greg Abbott and the White House, and the President ordered US flags flown at half-mast in honor of the victims.

A vigil was held Sunday night at the Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen to remember the victims. The Allen Premium Outlets are one of the most popular shopping centers in the Dallas area, and authorities have vowed to conduct extensive investigations to determine how such a tragic event could have taken place and how to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

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