As names of some of the eight people killed in a shooting at a suburban Dallas mall began to emerge Monday, authorities worked to determine whether the gunman was motivated by white supremacist and neo-Nazi views.
Federal agents have been reviewing social media accounts they believe were used by Mauricio Garcia, 33, and posts that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Garcia’s links to that ideology reportedly included social media posts as well as a patch on his chest that read “RWDS,” an acronym for the phrase “Right Wing Death Squad” that is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.
The official cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages.
Garcia was killed by police responding to Saturday’s assault in Allen, Texas, which left seven people with injuries that required hospitalization, Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said.
A deeper look at shopping mall shooting in Allen, Texas, second-deadliest in 2023
Developments:
∙ The attack in Allen is the year’s second-deadliest in the nation. A mass shooting in January in Monterey Park, California, left 11 people dead and nine injured after that city’s Lunar New Year festival.
∙ Patrick Crusius lived in Allen in 2019 before he posted a racist screed online that warned of a “Hispanic invasion” and drove to El Paso, where he opened fire at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges in February.
What we know about Mauricio Garcia
According to a search warrant obtained by WFAA-TV, investigators found several handguns, long guns and ammunition inside Garcia’s gray 2014 Dodge Charger at the scene of the shooting. Multiple media outlets including WFAA reported that Garcia had been in the U.S. Army in 2008 but was removed because of unspecified mental health concerns. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Garcia was a licensed security guard who most recently worked at an aluminum supply company.
“It still sends a chill down your spine knowing that the person who would commit a horrific crime like this lives five houses away,” Moises Carreon, who lived near Garcia’s listed address in Dallas, told Fox4news.com.
Thousands mourn victims as protesters demand gun law reform
A vigil at Cottonwood Creek Church led by senior pastor John Mark Caton drew Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and controversy. Multiple protesters were escorted from the service, and other protesters outside the church waved banners with slogans such as “I don’t want to be murdered at school” and “This voter opposes gun violence.”
After the vigil, Abbott tweeted that “the hearts of all Texans are with Allen, Texas. Tonight, I joined my fellow Texans in Allen for a community vigil for the innocent lives lost last night and those who are recovering from injuries. As this community heals, Texas will be with you every step of the way.”
Abbott has led a charge in Texas to ease gun laws, and he declined to support more restrictions despite the latest rampage, telling Fox News the long-term solutions remain dealing with mental health.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez is a Democrat whose district includes Uvalde, where a school shooting last May killed 19 students and two staffers. Gutierrez was unmoved by Abbott’s argument.
“Republicans have loosened gun laws in #Texas so much that ANYONE can get their hands on a gun, even if they shouldn’t have one,” Gutierrez tweeted. “We must to put a stop to this. REMEMBER: 80% of Americans support commonsense gun safety laws! #txlege“
What we know about the victims
Authorities haven’t released the names of the eight persons killed in the shooting but some of them have been identified by relatives or other sources. They include two sisters who were attending elementary school at a nearby town, an engineer from India and a young security guard.
Sofia and Daniela Mendoza
WFAA-TV reported the girls attended Cheri Cox Elementary School in the Wylie Independent School District, where Sofia was in second grade and Daniela in fourth. The district identified them in an e-mail to the school community and said their mother, Ilda, is in critical condition after the shooting, WFAA reported.
Cox principal Krista Wilson called the girls “rays of sunshine” in the email.
Christian LaCour
LaCour, 20, was a security guard working at the mall when he was killed Saturday, family members told news outlets. Max Weiss, who worked in a store a the mall, told CNN LaCour was “the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there. … He brought laughter and joy.”
Aishwarya Thatikonda
The 27-year-old engineer from India lived in McKinney, seven miles north of Allen. A family representative told WFAA that Thatikonda was visiting the mall with a friend, who was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition at a hospital.
The family wants to have Thatikonda’s body sent to India, the representative said.
What happened at the Allen Premium Outlets mall outside Dallas?
Police and witnesses said the gunman parked his car at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the crowded mall, which has more than 120 stores. The killer began shooting people as they walked along sidewalks nearby. Dashcam video circulating online showed the gunman getting out of a car and starting to shoot. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle recording the video drove away.
A police officer responding to an unrelated call nearby heard the shooting and engaged the gunman. The gunman was shot and killed, police said.
Contributing: The Associated Press
