Nine dead in Texas shopping mall mass killing, including shooter; seven dead at scene, two in hospitals

Nine people died Saturday in a mass killing at a suburban Dallas outlet mall that sent hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic, local authorities said.

The shooter was among the dead in the violence in Allen, Texas, said local news reports.

Seven people died at the scene, and two more died at hospitals, said officials. Hospital officials said they had treated victims between ages 5 and 61. Some of the wounded remained in critical condition, reports said.

“Today is a tragic day for the city of Allen … We know the days ahead will be difficult and somber,” said Kevin Fulk, the city’s mayor.

Fulk spoke at a televised news conference with the city’s police chief and a host of local politicians. Officials released few details of the shooting, saying it remained under investigation.

Police had feared a second shooter was involved, but Allen police said on Twitter several hours later that there was no active threat. The gunman was believed to have acted alone, said reports.

Shots were first reported around 3:40 p.m. local time at Allen Premium Outlets, in the suburb north of Dallas.

An Allen police officer responding to an unrelated call at the mall heard the shots, said the city’s police chief, Brian Harvey.

Harvey said the officer ran toward the gunfire, “neutralized” the gunman, and called for ambulances, said a local TV station.

Hundreds of people who had been in the mall during the shooting later stood outside as police questioned them about what they saw or knew.

“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” said Fontayne Payton, 35, who was at an H&M store when the sound of gunshots penetrated the headphones he was wearing.

Payton was ushered by store employees into a locked back room, before emerging some time later to see broken windows and a trail of blood on the floor.

“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” Payton continued, saying he had seen bodies covered in white towels that were slumped over bags on the ground.

“It broke me when I walked out to see that,” he said.

With News Wire Services