Survivors describe chaotic scenes during Texas mall shooting

The aftermath of a mass shooting in Allen, Texas.
(Image credit: LM Otero/AP Photo)

Survivors are describing scenes of horror following a mass shooting on Saturday in which nine people, including the shooter, were killed at a mall in Allen, Texas.

The shooting began around 3:30 p.m. at the Allen Premium Outlets, law enforcement said. Video from a dashcam widely circulated on social media shows the gunman getting out of a silver sedan and beginning to fire into a crowd of people on the sidewalk.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"I turned around and I saw two ladies rushing towards me, and then one was like 'Someone's shooting! Someone's shooting!'" witness Kingsley Ezeh told CNN, adding that he saw a man holding his neck, and "blood [was] just dripping down."

"The shooting happened over and over and over again. It was nonstop," witness Kimberly Blakey told the outlet after fleeing the parking lot with her daughter.

A pretzel stand employee, Maxwell Gum, described a similarly chaotic scene, telling The Associated Press, "We started running. Kids were getting trampled. My co-worker picked up a 4-year-old girl and gave her to her parents." Gum added that he sheltered in a storage room, telling AP there was a "virtual stampede" of shoppers.

Increased mass shootings have renewed calls for gun control. President Biden released a condolence statement, as did Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who previously signed laws easing firearms restrictions.

Justin Klawans, The Week US

Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.