Heroic Police Officer Tracks and Takes Down Gunman in Allen Mall Shooting: Body Camera Footage Released

Allen Police released a body camera video on Wednesday that shows a police officer tracking the sounds of gunfire to take down a gunman who killed eight people and wounded seven others outside the Allen Premium Outlets last month. The video’s release comes after the officer was cleared of any wrongdoing this week by a Collin County grand jury.

The grand jury heard the use of force case on Monday and “no billed” the officer who fatally shot the gunman, stating that his use of force was justified. Incidents involving deadly use of force are independently reviewed to ensure that the officer’s actions were in accordance with state law.

On May 6, a man armed with several weapons stopped his car in the south parking lot and opened fire on shoppers at the sprawling outdoor shopping center. Among the victims were three children, including two young sisters and a boy who died alongside his parents. Three other adults were also killed, including a mall security guard who died while helping shoppers move to safety.

At the time of the shooting, an officer on duty at the mall was in the parking lot talking with a woman and her two children when they heard the first gunshots. The officer immediately tracked the sound of gunfire until he found and fatally shot the gunman.

Following the grand jury’s decision, the Allen Police Department released the officer’s body camera footage from that day. The video was edited to remove some language and blur the faces and bodies of civilians and victims.

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey stated, “This video shows how quickly a routine interaction with the public turned into a life-and-death situation. The officer recognized the danger, ran toward the gunfire, and neutralized the threat – and for his actions, the Allen community is forever grateful.”

In the video, the officer can be heard laughing and casually talking to the woman and her children about wearing their seat belts when loud pops suddenly erupt in the background. The woman quickly moved her children out of harm’s way as the officer reached inside his patrol vehicle for a rifle and notified dispatchers about the gunshots.

The body camera video shows the officer running toward the mall, tracking the sounds of gunfire that were growing louder and louder. He yelled for people to leave the area and take cover as he continued moving toward the blasts. About a minute and 40 seconds after the first shots were heard in the video, the officer reached the outside of the H&M store where he encountered the first victims.

“I believe we’ve got a mass shooter. I’ve got a magazine on the ground. I’m passing injured,” the officer said into his radio, growing breathless. “I’m moving as fast as I can to try to get over there.” About three minutes after the shooting began, the officer fired his first shots at the gunman. As the shooting subsided, he cautiously moved toward the gunman while calling out to other officers arriving at the scene.

“I’m moving up on him… watch your fire! I got him down,” the officer said.

Five minutes after the shooting began, police at the scene confirmed that they had taken down the shooter.

Allen Police have requested a comprehensive and independent review of the incident by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to provide insight and best practices for future training and emergency response.

The mall reopened to shoppers on May 31, with each retailer having the flexibility to set their own hours and resume business at their own pace. Mall officials have announced plans for a permanent memorial to honor the victims, with details about the memorial to be released at a later date.

How did the release of the body camera footage by the Allen Police Department contribute to maintaining transparency and the community’s gratitude towards the officer’s actions

R grateful.”

The body camera video released by the Allen Police on Wednesday depicts a heroic police officer who used his keen instincts and quick thinking to locate and apprehend a gunman responsible for the tragic shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets last month. The video’s release follows the officer’s vindication by a Collin County grand jury earlier this week, as they determined that his use of force was justified.

On the fateful day of May 6, a heavily armed man unleashed a barrage of gunfire upon shoppers at the outdoor shopping center. The resulting chaos claimed the lives of eight innocent individuals and left seven others wounded, including three children. The victims included a young boy and his parents, as well as two young sisters. Tragically, even a mall security guard lost their life while attempting to ensure the safety of shoppers.

During the shooting, an officer on duty at the mall was engaged in a conversation with a woman and her two children in the parking lot when they heard the initial gunshots. Reacting swiftly, the officer skillfully tracked the source of the gunfire until he confronted and ultimately eliminated the threat posed by the gunman.

In the wake of the grand jury’s ruling, the Allen Police Department decided to release the body camera footage captured by the officer on that grim day. Prior to its publication, the video underwent necessary editing to remove any sensitive language and to protect the identities of civilians and victims by blurring their faces and bodies.

Dedicated to maintaining transparency, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey expressed his sentiments regarding the officer’s video, noting, “This footage exemplifies how a seemingly routine interaction quickly escalates into a life-or-death situation. Our officer’s astute awareness of the imminent danger enabled him to swiftly confront and neutralize the threat. The Allen community will forever be grateful for his decisive actions.”