Mauricio Martinez Garcia

On May 6, 2023, a mass shooting took place at Allen Premium Outlets, an outlet center in Allen, Texas, USA. Nine individuals, including the perpetrator, lost their lives during the incident, with the youngest victim being a three-year-old boy, and seven others sustained injuries. The assailant was fatally shot by a police officer who happened to be in the area responding to an unrelated call.

The shooter, 33-year-old Mauricio Martinez Garcia, was identified as a far-right extremist, although his exact motive for the spree killings remained unclear. Garcia’s extensive online writings revealed that he had self-radicalized, embracing and advocating white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and “incel” ideologies. He posted hateful comments targeting women, Jews, and racial minorities leading up to the attack. At the time of the massacre, he was wearing a tactical vest with a “RWDS” (“Right Wing Death Squad”) patch, and his body was adorned with fascist symbols, including SS lightning bolts and a large swastika.

The shooting commenced on May 6, 2023, at 3:36 p.m. CDT. Wearing black tactical gear, the assailant exited a silver sedan and opened fire into a crowd outside the mall. Within three to four minutes, the gunman shot 15 people, firing dozens of rounds indiscriminately. Witnesses reported that those fleeing the scene alerted others and helped shelter customers and employees in the store’s backrooms. A military veteran attempted to administer CPR to some of the victims, with many being rushed to a hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

The Allen Police Department received calls from the mall at 3:40 p.m. and confirmed law enforcement’s presence at the Allen Premium Outlets at 4:22 p.m. Allen police chief Brian Harvey stated that an officer, already at the mall for an unrelated call, engaged and neutralized the shooter. Bodycam footage from the officer who shot the assailant was later released.

Three firearms were discovered on the assailant’s body, with an additional five found in his car. He had legally obtained all eight guns and used an AR-15 style rifle during the attack.

Nine individuals lost their lives, including the shooter. The victims were Kyu Song Cho, 37; Cindy Cho, 35; James Cho, 3; Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27; Daniela Mendoza, 11; Sofia Mendoza, 8; Christian LaCour, 20; Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32. Seven others sustained injuries, with three in critical condition. Medical City Healthcare reported treating victims ranging from 5 to 61 years old, with most of them being transported to Medical City’s McKinney facility. The identities of the wounded had not been disclosed as of May 10.

A vigil was held on May 7 at the Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, attended by Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. A makeshift memorial was erected near the mall to honor the victims. On May 8, the Texas House of Representatives Select Committee on Community Safety voted to raise the age for purchasing AR-15-style rifles from 18 to 21, though the bill’s fate in the Texas Senate was uncertain. Mall patrons were allowed to retrieve their vehicles on May 8-9 under security escort, and personal belongings found in the mall were transferred to a nearby recreation center for retrieval. Student walkouts protesting government inaction in response to the shooting occurred at various schools.

On May 16, a large makeshift memorial at the outlet mall was dismantled, and the mall reopened on May 31, with individual stores reopening at the owners’ discretion. A scheduled gun show in Allen in July was canceled, with reasons undisclosed. On June 28, footage from the body camera of the police officer who shot the perpetrator was released.

Police revealed that Garcia had been staying at an extended-stay hotel in northwest Dallas, but his motive for the shooting remained unknown. A grand jury cleared the officer who shot Garcia of any wrongdoing, and the Allen Police Department released edited body camera footage. They also sought an independent review from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for training improvement.

President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass gun control legislation following the shooting. Flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims. Abbott and Patrick expressed condolences and gratitude toward first responders. Various political figures shared their opinions on gun control and prayed for the victims. Alumni of Allen High School and sports figures also offered their thoughts. Some commentators expressed outrage at unfiltered and graphic photos of the victims on social media.