On Saturday afternoon, a shooter at a North Texas outlet mall injured at least nine people before being killed by police. The incident occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets, north of Plano, with the death toll currently unknown.
Police said they will provide further updates later on. According to reports, a police officer who was on an unrelated call neutralized the suspected shooter. The fire department took nine people to the hospital, but there could be others who were injured. The casualties appear to include children, according to the Associated Press. Shoppers were evacuated from the mall, and police secured the area. Local authorities have asked for any information or footage from the shooting to be reported to the FBI.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has offered his support to the city of Allen, and expressed his condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
After the shooting at the North Texas outlet mall, Texas Democrats quickly criticized Republicans for resisting gun control legislation.
The Texas Democratic Party tweeted a message blaming Texas Republicans for allowing mass shootings to happen and calling for safer public spaces. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez also blamed the GOP’s gun laws for the incident.
However, several elected officials, including Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, responded with calls for prayer and condolences for the victims and their families. Republican U.S. Rep. Keith Self focused on mental health rather than politics during an interview with CNN and emphasized the importance of prayer. Self also responded to criticism that prayer is not enough by saying it is his belief that God is in control of our lives.
