Suspected Allen Premium Outlets mall shooter was staying at Dallas hotel, authorities say

The man believed to be the gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at the Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday was at a Dallas hotel, law enforcement sources said.

Sources told The Dallas Morning News that authorities identified the man and said agencies were executing search warrants on Saturday at the Budget Suites hotel at 8150 N Stemmons Freeway and at a home in northeast Dallas. Budget Suites staff did not respond to questions about whether the gunman had stayed there.

It’s unclear how long the alleged gunman stayed at the hotel. The identity of the gunman has not been released.

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Just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Allen police said an officer who was nearby on an unrelated call heard gunfire at the mall in the 800 block of West Stacy Road, near US Highway 75. According to the police, the officer “engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat” and then called the rescuers.

The shooter, who according to police acted alone, was one of seven people pronounced dead at the scene. Nine victims were taken to hospital and two of them later died.

Three of the seven injured victims were in critical condition and four were stable.

“Our hearts go out to the people and families affected by this tragic event”, wrote the police in a tweet.