Texas mall shooting - live: Allen police confirm Mauricio Garcia’s neo-Nazi views as cache of guns revealed

The law enforcement officer who took down the mass shooter at the Allen Premium Outlets mall has broken his silence for the first time.

Authorities have confirmed that the gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others had “neo-Nazi ideation” in a press conference on Tuesday.

The gunman, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, brought eight weapons with him to conduct the mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).

Garcia had three weapons on his person and five in his vehicle, according to Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms determined all of the weapons were obtained legally.

Eight people, including three young children, were killed in the shooting.

Gruesome footage depicting the victims in the moments after the shooting circulated around Twitter over the weekend and into Monday, leaving social media users horrified.

Garcia’s motive remains unknown but a social media profile, reviewed by The Independent, reveals that he stalked the mall in the weeks before the shooting to identify peak visitation times.

Key Points

• Texas mall gunman is identified as Mauricio Garcia

• What social media reveals about the Texas gunman

• Texas gunman researched mall to find ‘peak’ visiting time

• Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of Texas mass shooting victims to circulate for hours

• Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm

Texas mall shooting witness says he ‘loves guns’ but US needs to take action

10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A gun owner who rushed to the scene of the shooting in Allen, Texas, to help rescue victims has said it is time for the US to change its policies regarding semi-automatic weapons.

Steven Spainhouer drove to the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday evening after his son, who was working at an H&M store at the mall, texted him saying that there was an active shooting situation. Upon arriving at the scene of the carnage, Mr Spainhoeur told CBS that he found children covered in blood from head to toe, including a little girl whose face had been blown out by bullets from the AR-15-style rifle the gunman used to carry out the attack.

Eight people were killed before a police officer, who was at the scene responding to an unrelated call, managed to take down shooter Mauricio Garcia, 33.

In response to calls for “thoughts and prayers” from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other politicians, Mr Spainhouer told CNN those wishes fall short of addressing the concerning epidemic of gun violence in the US.

Mr Spainhouer, a former police officer and self-proclaimed gun lover, noted that regulations in the purchase of semi-automatic rifles, such as the one used in the latest gun massacre in America, have never been of more importance.

“We used to have a ban on assault weapons nationally,” Mr Spainhouer told the network, likely referencing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. “We can do that at the state level. We can put red flags in place. we can limit high-capacity rounds. We can stop putting weapons like the AR-15 in the hands of people that don’t need them.”

Elon Musk reacts to theories that gunman was a ‘psyop’

10:00 , ariana.baio

Elon Musk appeared to entertain the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right-wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop.”

“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.

One profile reportedly belonging to the gunman, who police identified as Mauricio Garcia, shared extremist views about mass shootings and white supremacy. The same profile also praised Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account run by right-wing activist Chaya Raichik, which targets the LGBT+ community. Mr Musk frequently interacts with the Libs of TikTok Twitter account.

Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”

Mass shooter allegedly had tattoo of swastika

09:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The gunman who killed eight people allegedly had a tattoo of a swastika, according to an image posted on the gunman’s supposed ok.ru profile.

Authorities investigating the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, said the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, may have had ties to far-right-wing groups, white supremacy and neo-Nazism.

A profile that seems to match Garica from the Russian website, ok.ru, had posted photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

Shooting victim hailed as hero for helping person to safety before he was killed

09:00 , Ariana Baio

Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.

Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.

Garcia murdered eight people at the outlet mall, including children, before police shot and killed him.

LaCour’s sister, Breanna Smith, remembered her brother in an interview with CNN.

“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” she said.

Texas mall gunman was terminated from US Army training due to mental health concerns

08:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The Texas man who killed eight people while carrying out a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May) was terminated from the US Army training in 2008 due to a physical or mental health concern according to the US Army.

The shooter, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, entered the regular army in 2008 but was terminated three months later according to a statement provided to The Independent by Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman.

“Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational speciality. He had no deployments or awards,” Ms Hagan said.

She added that the Army does not provide a characterisation of the discharge of any soldier.

However, an Army Official noted that Garcia was “separated” under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200 paragraph 5-17, “other designated physical or mental conditions”.

Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm

08:00 , Ariana Baio

The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, brought eight weapons with him, police have confirmed in a press conference.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, the man law enforcement identified as the gunman, used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).

But according to police, Garcia had seven additional weapons.

“He had eight weapons with him,” Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, said on Tuesday.

Ariana Baio reports:

Texas mall gunman carried eight weapons to mass shooting, police confirm

Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, brought eight weapons with him, police have confirmed in a press conference.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, the man law enforcement identified as the gunman, used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).

But according to police, Garcia had seven additional weapons.

“He had eight weapons with him,” Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, said on Tuesday.

Mr Sibley said three of the eight weapons were carried by Garcia while five remained in the vehicle he drove to the outlet.

All eight were legally obtained by the gunman, Mr Sibley confirmed, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran traces on all of the weapons.

Garcia used one of his weapons to shoot and kill eight people, three of whom were young children, and injure seven others, according to authorities.

Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of Texas mass shooting victims to circulate for hours

07:00 , Ariana Baio

In the days after a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, footage depicting the immediate and gruesome aftermath of the shooting began circulating on Twitter.

Unknowing Twitter users opened up the social media platform on Monday only to see a video depicting several victims lying on the ground covered in blood with some body parts visible.

Another video showed the gunman deceased, with blood coming from his body. Stills from the video were shared separately.

For hours, the footage haunted people’s “for you” feeds. Even those not seeking out the content stumbled across it.

Ariana Baio reports:

Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of shooting to circulate for hours

Elon Musk appears to entertain conspiracy theory that Texas shooting was a ‘psyop’

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right-wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop”.

“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.

Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”

Posts show Texas mall gunman researched attack for weeks

06:00 , Ariana Baio

Posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping mall last weekend, killing eight people and wounding seven others.

Garcia, 33, researched when the mall in Allen was busiest — Saturday afternoons — and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack last Saturday, which ended with police killing him.

His online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary forces.

Victims of the Texas mall shooting – everything we know

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A three-year-old boy, two elementary-age sisters, a young engineer from India and mall workers are among the eight people killed in last weekend’s horrific mass shooting in Allen, Texas.

Eight people were killed and seven others were injured.

Here’s what we know so far about the victims:

What we know about victims of Texas outlet mall shooting

Firearms used in mass shooting were obtained legally

05:00 , Ariana Baio

The gunman who used an AR-15-style rifle in a mass shooting on Saturday (6 May) obtained the gun legally, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Sibley said the gunman, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, obtained all eight of the weapons identified at the scene legally.

Garcia carried three of the firearms on his person and left five in the car he arrived in.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran traces on all of the weapons to determine their legality.

Garcia did not have a criminal record and worked in security before the shooting occurred.

ICYMI: Authorities examining ideology of Texas gunman

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Law enforcement is looking into the ideology of 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia who killed eight people and injured seven others during a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday.

Garcia displayed “neo-Nazi ideation” Hank Sibley, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The gunman had tattoos of Nazi symbols and was found with a patch on his body armour that read “RWDS” an acronym for “Right Wing Death Squad” - a popular saying among right-wing extremists.

According to law enforcement, the FBI is investigating Garcia’s ideology by examining his electronic devices and interviewing Garcia’s family members.

Victims of the Texas mall shooting – everything we know

04:00 , Ariana Baio

A three-year-old boy, two elementary-age sisters, a young engineer from India and a mall worker are among the eight people killed in last weekend’s horror mass shooting in Allen, Texas.

The Independent reports:

What we know about victims of Texas outlet mall shooting

Firearms used in mass shooting were obtained legally

03:50 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The gunman who used an AR-15-style rifle in a mass shooting on Saturday (6 May) obtained the gun legally, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Sibley said the gunman, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, obtained all eight of the weapons identified at the scene legally.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran traces on all of the weapons to determine this.

Garcia did not have a criminal record and worked in security before the shooting occurred.

GoFundMe releases list of official funds

03:00 , Ariana Baio

GoFundMe has compiled a list of the official donation websites for the families of the victims affected by the mass shooting.

The Allen, TX Victims’ Fund, organised by Victims’ Fund, benefits the families of victims 100 per cent. It is the same organisation that collected donations for the families of the Uvlade, TX victims.

The Irvin Walker II Fund is seeking donations from people to help Irvin Walker, a man who was shot twice during the shooting. Mr Walker II survived but has “a long road to recovery”. The money raised will go toward paying for medical and personal expenses.

The Cho Family Fund is raising money for William Cho, the six-year-old boy who is the only person in his immediate family who survived the shooting. William’s parents, Cindy and Kyu, as well as his three-year-old brother James died.

The Mendoza Family Fund is seeking donations to help support the Mendoza family who lost their 11-year-old daughter Daniela and 8-year-old daughter Sofia in the tragic shooting. The girls’ mother was also shot and is currently in the hospital.

Shooting survivor out of surgery

02:00 , Ariana Baio

Irvin Walker II, a survivor of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, is recovering from surgery that took place on Monday to remove bullet fragments.

Mr Walker II was looking for parking while at the mall on Saturday (6 May) when the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, began shooting directly into Mr Walker II’s car.

According to the GoFundMe page set up for Mr Walker II, he was shot twice in his chest by the gunman’s ammunition. One of the shots was “very close to his heart.”

Luckily, Mr Walker II had a successful surgery and emerged from it in good spirits.

The GoFundMe, which will benefit Mr Walker II’s medical and personal expenses has raised over $49,000.

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from weekend of horror

01:30 , Ariana Baio

An active shooter attacked an outlet mall near Dallas on Saturday afternoon, killing eight before being shot dead himself by an Allen cop. The following morning, 570 miles south, a car plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, killing eight more. Then, eight hours later, a dispute on a Dallas Dart train led to another deadly shooting.

Sheila Flynn reports:

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence

Authorities examining ideology of Texas gunman

01:00 , Ariana Baio

Law enforcement is looking into the ideology of 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia who killed eight people and injured seven others during a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday.

Garcia displayed “neo-Nazi ideation” Hank Sibley, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The gunman had tattoos of Nazi symbols and was found with a patch on his body armour that read “RWDS” an acronym for “Right Wing Death Squad” - a popular saying among right-wing extremists.

According to law enforcement, the FBI is investigating Garcia’s ideology by examining his electronic devices and interviewing Garcia’s family members.

Mauricio Garcia: Everything we know about the Texas mall gunman

Wednesday 10 May 2023 00:30 , Ariana Baio

A gunman clad in black body armour and armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle opened fire at a Texas mall on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring seven others.

The suspect was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, a security guard and former US Army trainee.

The Independent reports:

Mauricio Garcia: What we know about the Texas mall gunman who killed eight

Chilling website shows number of days without a mass shooting in Texas

Wednesday 10 May 2023 00:05 , Ariana Baio

A website called dwamstx.com has a live counter that shows how many days it has been since Texas had a mass shooting and how many times the counter has been reset.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there had been three days since the last mass shooting in Allen on Saturday.

Since last week, the counter has been reset once and since last year, it has been reset 34 times.

It has counted 281 casualties in Texas due to mass shootings.

FBI investigating gunman’s electronic devices

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:30 , ariana.baio

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the gunman, Mauricio Garcia’s, electronic devices, police revealed in a press conference on Tuesday.

As authorities work to determine a motive behind the shooting, the FBI will be investigating Garcia’s online presence.

Hank Sibley, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Garcia displayed “neo-Nazi ideation” as he had a tattoo of a swastika and “his signature” indicated he had ideas about neo-Nazism.

A profile on the Russian website ok.ru that seemingly belonged to Garcia gave a peak into the gunman’s thinking as he posted praise for Adolf Hitler, photos of Nazi symbols and more in posts seen by The Independent.

WATCH: Authorities host press conference on shooting

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Texas mall shooting victim Christian LaCour hailed as a hero for helping person to safety before he was killed

Tuesday 9 May 2023 22:40 , Ariana Baio

Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.

Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Texas mall shooting victim remembered for heroic final act

Firearms used in mass shooting were obtained legally

Tuesday 9 May 2023 22:15 , Ariana Baio

The gunman who used an AR-15-style rifle in a mass shooting on Saturday (6 May) obtained the gun legally, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Sibley said the gunman, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, obtained all eight of the weapons identified at the scene legally.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran traces on all of the weapons to determine this.

Garcia did not have a criminal record and worked in security before the shooting occurred.

Shooting only lasted 3-4 minutes

Tuesday 9 May 2023 21:50 , Ariana Baio

Law enforcement said that the mass shooting that took place in Allen, Texas on Saturday (6 May) only lasted 3-4 minutes.

Eight people died and seven others were injured in the short amount of time the gunman was on the loose.

Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said on Tuesday in a press conference that they estimated the shooting only lasted a few minutes before a police officer shot Garica.

Texas mall gunman carried eight firearms to mass shooting, police confirm

Tuesday 9 May 2023 21:20 , Ariana Baio

The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas brought eight weapons with him, police confirmed in a press conference.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, the man law enforcement identified as the gunman, used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May).

But according to police, Garcia came prepared with seven additional weapons.

“He had eight weapons with him,” Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Safety said on Tuesday.

Ariana Baio reports:

Texas mall gunman carried eight weapons to mass shooting, police confirm

Greg Abbott blames ‘anger’ not guns for Texas mall shooting

Tuesday 9 May 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Texas Gov Greg Abbott blamed a rising “anger” in American society as he responded to calls for action after a horrific mass shooting occurred at an outlet mall in his state Saturday evening.

The Republican governor was speaking on Fox News Sunday as he faced scorn and derision from critics online over a 2015 tweet urging residents in his state to buy more guns and overtake California in terms of rates of new gun ownership.

On Sunday, Mr Abbott pointed to the rise of mass-casualty attacks involving guns in both Republican- and Democrat-controlled states as evidence of a wider problem that he argued would not be fixed (or even stemmed) by tougher restrictions on guns.

“One thing that we can observe very easily and that there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of anger and violence that’s taking place in America,” he concluded.

GoFundMe to support orphaned boy tops $1.1m

Tuesday 9 May 2023 20:40 , Ariana Baio

A GoFundMe campaign has topped $1.2m for a six-year-old boy who was the only member of a family to survive the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas.

Cindy Cho, Kyu Cho, and their children William, 6, and James, 3, had gone shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon when gunman Mauricio Garcia, 33, drove to the mall armed with an AR-15 and opened fire on innocent shoppers and mall workers.

Cindy, 35, Kyu, 37, and James were among the eight victims killed in the massacre before Garcia was shot dead by a law enforcement officer on the scene.

Now, after his mother, father and younger brother were all murdered, little William has been left orphaned.

Read the full story here:

GoFundMe tops $1m for boy, 6, who lost entire family in Allen mall mass shooting

Elon Musk reacts to theories that gunman was a ‘psyop’

Tuesday 9 May 2023 20:15 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk appeared to entertain the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop.”

“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.

One profile reportedly belonging to the gunman, who police named as Mauricio Garcia, shared extremist views about mass shootings and white supremacy. The same profile also praised Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account run by right wing activist Chaya Raichik, which targets the LGBT+ community. Mr Musk frequently interacts with the Libs of TikTok Twitter account.

Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it “either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!”

Gunman was terminated from US Army over mental health concerns

Tuesday 9 May 2023 19:50 , Ariana Baio

The Texas man who killed eight people while carrying out a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May) was terminated from the US Army training in 2008 due to a physical or mental health concern according to the US Army.

“Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards,” Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman.

She added that the Army does not provide characterisation of the discharge of any soldier.

However, an Army Official noted that Garcia was “separated” under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200 paragraph 5-17, “other designated physical or mental conditions”.

Mass shooter allegedly had tattoo of swastika

Tuesday 9 May 2023 19:30 , ariana.baio

The gunman who killed eight people allegedly had a tattoo of a swastika, according to an image posted on the gunman’s supposed ok.ru profile.

Authorities investigating the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, said the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, may have had ties to far-right-wing groups, white supremacy and neo-Nazism.

A profile that seems to match Garica from the Russian website, ok.ru, had posted photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

Shooting survivor out of surgery

Tuesday 9 May 2023 19:15 , Ariana Baio

Irvin Walker II, a survivor of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, is recovering from surgery that took place on Monday to remove bullet fragments.

Mr Walker II was looking for parking while at the mall on Saturday (6 May) when the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, began shooting directly into Mr Walker II’s car.

According to the GoFundMe page set up for Mr Walker II, he was shot twice in his chest by the gunman’s ammunition. One of the shots was “very close to his heart.”

Luckily, Mr Walker II had a successful surgery and emerged from it in good spirits.

The GoFundMe, which will benefit Mr Walker II’s medical and personal expenses has raised over $49,000.

Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of Texas mass shooting victims to circulate for hours

Tuesday 9 May 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

In the days after a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, footage depicting the immediate and gruesome aftermath of the shooting began circulating on Twitter.

Unknowing Twitter users opened up the social media platform on Monday only to see a video depicting several victims lying on the ground covered in blood with some body parts visible.

Another video showed the gunman deceased, with blood coming from his body. Stills from the video were shared separately.

For hours, the footage haunted people’s “for you” feeds. Even those not seeking out the content stumbled across it.

Ariana Baio reports:

Twitter under fire for allowing graphic images of shooting to circulate for hours

WATCH: Texas mall shooting survivor speak about worker who saved shoppers

Tuesday 9 May 2023 18:40 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk appears to entertain conspiracy theory that Texas shooting was a ‘psyop’

Tuesday 9 May 2023 18:20 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a “psyop” or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspect’s apparent right wing motives was “suspect” and that the shooting was “a psyop.”

“This gets weirder by the moment,” he wrote in response.

Richard Hall reports:

Elon Musk appears to entertain conspiracy theory that Texas shooting was a ‘psyop’

Gunman allegedly left notes and photos in hotel room before shooting

Tuesday 9 May 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Law enforcement allegedly found several items the Allen Premium Outlets gunman left behind in a motel room shortly before conducting the mass shooting.

According to a search warrant obtained by local news outlet WFAA the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, 33, left behind several handwritten notes, pictures, two black hats that read “Killin It” and “Security” on it as well as a micro SD card with a handwritten note attached to it.

The obtained search warrant did not include what the handwritten notes said on them.

Nazi images and ‘Right Wing Death Squad’: Texas gunman’s alleged far-right social media posts

Tuesday 9 May 2023 17:40 , Ariana Baio

A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.

Posts reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers include photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

Alex Woodward reports:

Texas shooter Mauricio Garcia’s alleged soical media posts reveal Nazi images

VOICES: Gruesome video footage won’t make gun control happen

Tuesday 9 May 2023 17:20 , Ariana Baio

Voices: News organizations often don’t release explicit footage of mass shootings out of respect for victims and because the images can be traumatizing. But the stark video from Allen, Texas, led many commenters to wonder whether that policy of discretion was a mistake.

Unfortunately, images of violence, no matter how ugly, are unlikely to move the gun debate.

Noah Berlatsky reports:

Gruesome video footage won’t make gun control happen

The violent meaning behind Mauricio Garcia’s ‘RWDS’ patch

Tuesday 9 May 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Mauricio Garcia, the man who allegedly killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall on Saturday, reportedly wore a patch that read ‘RWDS.’ The item may be a key to the gunman’s motive in the shooting.

The acronym stands for “right wing death squad,” and has increasingly been donned by far-right figures like the Proud Boys, according to Southern Poverty Law Center.

As reporter Robert Downen notes, the far-right street gang has worn clothing featuring the acronym as well as direct references to authoritarian leaders Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Texas House advances bill that would raise age to purchase semi-automatic firearm

Tuesday 9 May 2023 16:40 , Ariana Baio

The Texas House Community Safety, Select Committee advanced a bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase a certain semi-automatic rifle on Monday - just days after another mass shooting rocked the state.

In an 8-5 vote, the committee voted to send the bill to the House floor marking a rare milestone in gun control advocates’ fight to reduce mass shootings in Texas.

The bill, HB 2744, would make it an offense for anyone to knowingly sell, rent, lease, give or offer to sell, rent, lease or give a semiautomatic rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has a caliber greater than .22 to a person younger than 21 years old.

It also prevents the sale of a firearm or ammunition to a person who is intoxicated, under an active protective order or convicted of a felony within five years of being released from parole.

America’s red state gun violence epidemic

Tuesday 9 May 2023 16:20 , Ariana Baio

Gun violence isn’t just in big cities like Los Angeles or Chicago.

As The Independent reported last year, red states and rural areas struggle just as much with shootings. In some ways, the violence there is actually worse.

Get all the details in our full story.

GOP says gun violence mostly happens in Democratic cities – the figures disagree

Texas mall gunman was terminated from US Army training due to mental health concerns

Tuesday 9 May 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

The Texas man who killed eight people while carrying out a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday (6 May) was terminated from the US Army training in 2008 due to a physical or mental health concern according to the US Army.

The shooter, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, entered the regular army in 2008 but was terminated three months later according to a statement provided to The Independent by Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman.

“Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards,” Ms Hagan said.

She added that the Army does not provide characterisation of the discharge of any soldier.

However, an Army Official noted that Garcia was “separated” under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200 paragraph 5-17, “other designated physical or mental conditions”.

Indian-origin woman among those dead in the Texas mall shooting

Tuesday 9 May 2023 15:40 , Ariana Baio

A 26-year-old woman from Hyderabad in India was among eight people killed by the gunman in the Texas mall shooting on Saturday. The police identified the Indian woman as Aishwarya Thatikonda.

She lived in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, according to a family representative.

Thatikonda was working as a project manager at a Dallas-based contracting firm.

Audio reveals moment officer made frantic request for backup moments before taking down Texas mall shooter

Tuesday 9 May 2023 15:20 , Ariana Baio

Audio released on Sunday reportedly reveals the moment a heroic officer frantically requested backup before neutralising the Texas mall gunman.

Eight people were killed during the vicious attack that also left seven others injured at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, on Saturday afternoon. The gunman, who has not yet been named, was also shot and killed by police.

Andrea Blanco and Graeme Massie report

Moment officer makes frantic request for backup before taking down Texas mall shooter

Victims official GoFundMes

Tuesday 9 May 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio

GoFundMe has compiled a list of the official donation websites for the families of the victims affected by the mass shooting.

The Allen, TX Victims’ Fund, organised by Victims’ Fund, benefits the families of victims 100 per cent. It is the same organisation that collected donations for the families of the Uvlade, TX victims.

The Irvin Walker II Fund is seeking donations from people to help Irvin Walker, a man who was shot twice during the shooting. Mr Walker II survived but has “a long road to recovery”. The money raised will go toward paying for medical and personal expenses.

The Cho Family Fund is raising money for William Cho, the six-year-old boy who is the only person in his immediate family who survived the shooting. William’s parents, Cindy and Kyu, as well as his three-year-old brother James died.

The Mendoza Family Fund is seeking donations to help support the Mendoza family who lost their 11-year-old daughter Daniela and 8-year-old daughter Sofia in the tragic shooting. The girls’ mother was also shot and is currently in the hospital.

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from weekend of horror

Tuesday 9 May 2023 14:40 , Ariana Baio

An active shooter attacked an outlet mall near Dallas on Saturday afternoon, killing eight before being shot dead himself by an Allen cop. The following morning, 570 miles south, a car plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, killing eight more. Then, eight hours later, a dispute on a Dallas Dart train led to another deadly shooting.

Sheila Flynn reports:

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence

Authorities release list of victims

Tuesday 9 May 2023 14:20 , Ariana Baio

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Allen Police Department released the list of victims who died in the tragic shooting that took place on Saturday at a mall in Allen, Texas.

The ages of the victims range from three to 37.

Texas gunman wore ‘Right Wing Death Squad’ patch as he killed eight at mall, says report

Tuesday 9 May 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

The gunman who murdered eight people in a mass shooting at a Texas outlet mall wore a “Right Wing Death Squad” patch on his chest and may have held white supremacist beliefs, says a report.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, jumped out of a silver car and opened fire on a crowd of shoppers with an AR-15 rifle on Saturday afternoon at the Allen Premium Outlets in the city of Allen.

Now investigators are looking at the shooter’s possible far-right political beliefs as a motive for the shooting, people familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post.

Graeme Massie reports:

Texas gunman wore ‘Right Wing Death Squad’ patch as he killed eight at mall

Nazi images, hateful rants and ‘Right Wing Death Squad’: A look at Texas gunman’s alleged far-right social media posts

Tuesday 9 May 2023 13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.

Posts reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers include photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

The profile allegedly belongs to Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old who was fatally shot by police after he fired an AR-style rifle at the outlet mall, killing eight and injuring seven others.

Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed or suggested a motive behind the mass shooting. A federal law enforcement bulletin notes that the FBI’s “review and triage of the subject’s social media accounts revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.”

Texas gunman’s alleged violent social media posts reveal Nazi images and attack plans