Officers responded Saturday afternoon to Allen Premium Outlets to investigate a shooting that left eight victims dead and others transported to the hospital, the victim being approximately 5 years old.
The Allen Police Department said one of the officers responded to the outlet mall with an unrelated phone call when they heard gunshots shortly after 3:30 p.m.
“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat,” police said.
Nine people including the criminal died. Seven died on the spot and two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The Allen Fire Department transported nine victims, but others may have been transported by other agencies or taken to the hospital by friends and family.
Police said the condition of three of the injured was critical and the condition of four was stable.
A spokesman for Medical City Healthcare said eight victims, ranging in age from 5 to 61, were receiving treatment at the facility.
Multiple agencies including the Allen Police Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and ATF responded to secure the site.
Police currently believe there is no active threat and that the shooter acted alone.
“We were outside a Converse store and we just heard a pop,” said Elaine Pennikaro, who was shopping with her daughter. “We all stopped and after a while it went ‘pop, pop, pop, pop, pop’. It flashed like it was in front of you.”
Penicaro said that when he heard the gunshots, he went inside the store to hide.
When the police retaliated, the scared shopkeepers took shelter in the rear of the shop.
Abu Akhtar said, “I didn’t know where the shooter was, so I got the box closed. It was confusion and panic.”
Akhtar was with his wife and 1-year-old child when he heard gunshots outside H&M.
He grabbed a woman who said she had been shot in the side and brought her into the store.
“Then he said, ‘I don’t know why I was shot. What happened?’ And I saw he was bleeding from his stomach,” Akhtar recalled.
One man recalled, “I heard at least 30 gunshots.”
Investigators searched the stores one by one, eventually forcing shoppers to exit with their hands raised.
One man told FOX 4 that he came out of hiding at an H&M and saw unbelievable scenes on the sidewalk.
“I was wearing headphones and I heard a thud, thump, thump, thump.” “The same body under the white cover.”
Hundreds of shoppers were left to watch as investigators swarm across Chelsea Boulevard, waiting for their loved ones to pick them up.
Sandra McKinley recalled, “We heard fireworks and heard people running.”
McKinley and her 13-year-old son Ryan sneak inside the American Eagle.
“I think a lot of us are hoping that it actually won’t happen, you know?” He added.
Reality set in for hundreds of Saturday afternoons as people embraced again.
An integration point was created on Chelsea Boulevard.
PD Allen stated via social media that an active investigation is underway and asked to avoid the area.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued the following statement after the shooting:
Governor Abbott said: “I have been in contact with Mayor Fulk and DPS Director McCraw and other state and local leaders and local officials to ensure all necessary assistance and resources can be deployed quickly, including the DPS officer ranger. has provided the full support of the State of Texas. , investigative resources.”
Allen Premium Outlets also released a statement following the shooting.
We are shocked by today’s senseless tragedies and outraged by the violence that continues in our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and others affected by this heinous act. We thank our officers for their heroic actions and all first responders for their support.