- Robert Grinnall and Lawrence Peter
- BBC News
The scene is at Allen Premium Outlets as the police secure the area
US emergency services said a gunman shot and killed eight people who were shopping at a mall north of Dallas, Texas.
Hundreds of people are evacuated from Allen Premium Outlets, while a police officer kills the gunman after hearing gunshots.
Some of the victims were reported to be children. At least seven people are being treated in hospital, three of them in critical condition.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people, including the gunman, were declared dead at the scene, and two died later in hospital.
Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said a police officer in the mall “heard gunshots and went to the scene and engaged the suspect, killing him.”
The victims ranged in age from 5 to 51, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Some witnesses described the gunman as wearing all black and combat fatigues. Footage taken after the gunman was killed shows an AR-15 rifle lying near his body.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the shooting an “untold tragedy” and said the state was ready to provide any assistance to local authorities.
President Joe Biden on Sunday denounced “foolish acts of violence” and ordered American flags to be flown over federal buildings, military sites and US embassies, until sunset on Thursday.
He also called on Congress again to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“Too many families have empty chairs at the dinner tables,” Biden said. “Tweeting thoughts and prayers is not enough.”
One witness said: “I heard 10 bullets being fired, then another fifteen. We saw a man dressed in all black, with a flak jacket, shooting at people.”
Video from the incident showed people running for cover across a car park as a series of shots fired.
Allen has a population of approximately 105,000 and is located 32 km north of central Dallas.
Most adults age 21 or older in Texas are allowed to carry a handgun without a license, unless they have a prior criminal record. Additionally, there are few restrictions on possession of guns.
Republicans control the Texas legislature.
At least 198 mass shootings in which four or more people were killed or injured took place this year in the United States, according to the Armed Violence Archive.
image copyright Reuters
Shoppers leaving the mall
An eyewitness at the mall said he heard gunshots when he was shopping. “When people were allowed to leave the mall, we saw the dead bodies outside,” he added.
Allen Mayor Ken Folk called it a “tragic day” for the city. “Allen is a proud and safe city, which makes today’s senseless violence all the more shocking,” he said on the city’s website.
“Nonetheless, I would like to commend our fire and police departments for their rapid response. Their comprehensive training to not hesitate to act on a threat could potentially save more lives today.”
Texas Senator John Cornyn tweeted that he was “sad for the Allen community” and praised the swift response from “everyone involved in responding to the horrific incident this afternoon.”
Earlier this week, police in Texas arrested a man accused of shooting five people, including a nine-year-old boy.
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2023-05-07 22:37:18
