Two days after the Allen Mall shooting, the community appears to be healing

Two days after a gunman killed 8 and injured 7 others at an Allen shopping mall, authorities have revealed few details about the killer and the victims.

The mall, Allen Premium Outlets, is 30 miles from Dallas and has remained closed since the shooting. Hundreds of shoppers who were at the scene were escorted out by authorities on Saturday and were unable to recover their cars.

The local FBI began a car recovery process on Sunday that continues until 2:00 pm Monday. They are providing crisis assistance and support services to victims at the Allen Senior Recreation Center, which includes “mental health services, spiritual care, and potential financial assistance.”

Hundreds attended a vigil Sunday night, including Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and McKinney State Senator Angela Paxton. But state officials have not commented.

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As the community tries to heal, investigators have identified the shooter as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia.

Law enforcement officers executed search warrants at the Budget Suites hotel at 8150 N Stemmons Freeway, where they said Garcia was located, and at a home in northeast Dallas.

The peace enjoyed by the neighbors of Piper Ln. Northeast Dallas was in shock Sunday when it was revealed that Mauricio Garcia, identified by authorities as Allen’s killer, was their neighbor.

Louis Moore, a neighbor, said he’s lived there for more than 13 years and the family has always been there, but he’s barely spoken to them because they don’t speak English well.

“Like all of us, that family tried to give their children a good life and they definitely didn’t realize when this kid lost his sanity and that happened too it’s a tragedy for them,” she said. “I’m so sorry they lost a son too.”

Even Tisha Williams, whose family has lived on that street for more than 60 years, commented that this is a warm family.

“Yes, I saw the guy all the time, and he was very friendly, he said hello warmly, but we never really had a close relationship with them,” Williams said.

Mauricio Garcia’s family home is located on the 9000 block of Piper Ln. and some people walked or drove by to see the house. Some stopped to take pictures.

Residents of the house were inside and visitors sometimes arrived, but no one agreed to speak to The News.

Garcia has no history of serving in the state prison system, Texas Department of Criminal Justice communications director Amanda Hernandez confirmed. She had an active felony warrant for drug paraphernalia in Garland as of 2020, according to police records.

In his phone’s voicemail recording, he said “Hi, I’m Mauricio. If you’re the phone company, I’ve already sent the money. If you are my parents, send money. If you are my financial aid institution, you haven’t lent me enough money. If you’re my friends, you owe me money. If you’re a woman, don’t worry, I have a lot of money.

Police have yet to publicly identify any of the victims. No press conferences are scheduled, while the two held on Saturday did not allow questions.

Saturday’s shooting was the second-deadliest in the country in 2023, following a January shooting at the Monterey Park, California, dance hall that left 12 dead.

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