Multiple people were shot, some fatally, at a mall near Dallas by a gunman who authorities believe was acting alone — and who is now dead — and at least nine victims were transported to trauma facilities, officials said Saturday.
A Dallas-area medical group says it is treating victims as young as 5 years old.
Authorities in Allen, Texas, responded to the shooting at an outlet mall in the afternoon, with ATF personnel on the scene at Allen Premium Outlets.
There was a search for a second gunman, according to a source, but police now say they believe the shooter acted alone.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said nine victims were transported to area medical facilities, but he didn’t specify the number of injured or dead because authorities don’t have an accurate count.
At a press conference Saturday evening, police said they would provide another update later in the evening.
The City of Allen tweeted: “Our hearts are with the individuals and families impacted by this tragic event.”
US Rep Keith Self also told CNN’s Paula Reid that there are multiple casualties but he declined to specify a number, saying he would leave that information to law enforcement.
https://youtu.be/qZTCJ6AwS2I
“The shooter is dead and I am told by law enforcement that there was only one shooter, they have now confirmed that,” the Republican representative said. “There are now multiple victims but I am going to leave that to law enforcement to announce. The scene is now secure but it’s fluid.”
Witnesses told CNN that they saw the gunman who was dressed all in black, and was wearing tactical gear.
Police believe they have identified the vehicle of the deceased suspect, which is being examined by the bomb squad as a precaution, the source says.
Gov. Greg Abbott called it an “unspeakable tragedy,” saying in a statement that “our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas.”
Jaynal Pervez told CNN affiliate KTVT that he arrived at the mall after his daughter, who was inside, called to inform him about a shooting.
“We saw the police outside the door, and they told us we had to go, and that they are still looking for the person,” Pervez said. “There’s no more safe places. I don’t know what to do.”
Police in Allen asked residents to avoid the area.
Tony Wright, a resident whose home backs up to the Allen Premium Outlets, said his family thought they heard construction before they realized it was gunshots.
Wright said he was driving away from his house at the time and didn’t hear the gunshots himself, but his family called him moments later, “freaking out,” and saying they heard gunfire.
Initially, however, it wasn’t clear.
“Everyone thought it was hammering,” he said of the noise of gunfire that sounded like construction.
But he said once they saw people fleeing the outlet mall, the family locked the doors and hunkered down./cnn
Hospital treating victims as young as 5 years old after Allen outlet mall shooting
A Dallas-area medical group said it is treating victims as young as 5 years old from Saturday’s shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.
“Of those involved, 8 victims ranging from 5 to 61 years old are being treated at Medical City Healthcare trauma facilities,” the group said in a statement Saturday evening.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the first responders, victims, their loved ones, and the North Texas community during this tragic event,” Medical City Healthcare said.
Medical City Healthcare has more than a dozen healthcare facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said earlier Saturday that his department took nine people to local hospitals, but added that there may be more victims who were not taken by ambulance. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said there were fatalities in the shooting, but added that authorities don’t yet have an accurate number of how many people died.
CNN’s Paradise Afshar contributed to this report.
Texas governor calls shooting an “unspeakable tragedy”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Saturday’s shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets an “unspeakable tragedy.”
“Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abbott said. “I have been in contact with Mayor Fulk and DPS Director McCraw as well as other state and local leaders and offered the full support of the State of Texas to local officials to ensure all needed assistance and resources are swiftly deployed, including DPS officers, Texas Rangers, and investigative resources.”
Law enforcement is at the scene of the shooting, where the city’s fire chief says at least nine people were rushed to the hospital.
