The number of Mass shootings in the US has reached 200 so far in 2023 after a gunman opened fire on a crowd at a suburban Dallas outlet mall on Saturday, killing at least eight people and injuring seven more. Terrifying photographs of seriously injured shoppers were shared on social media at the time.
Three of the survivors, at least, are seriously hurt. A Police officer in the nearby quickly intervened and shot the gunman dead.Police and witnesses initially reported that a shooter arrived in a gray Honda Accord at the Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, roughly 30 miles outside of downtown Dallas. The unidentified man started shooting at pedestrians outside the renowned outlet mall, which is home to a number of luxury retailers like Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, and Ann Taylor.
President Biden had been briefed about the shooting, according to the White House, and the administration had provided assistance to local officials. Greg Abbott, a Republican governor of Texas who has eased gun controls in the wake of previous school shootings, termed it a "unspeakable tragedy."
Following mass shootings in Chico, California, and Columbus, Ohio, on a day when many Americans were concentrating on the Kentucky Derby and the summer-like weather, Saturday's massacre was the third in the US that day. An examination of the Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killing database shows that Mass Killings are occurring in the United States at an alarmingly high rate this year—about one per week on average. There have already been 22 mass homicides in the United States in 2023.
The Texas mass shooting is the 200th nationwide this year and the 12th in May, according to the Gun Violence Archive, another database. In contrast to mass homicides, which are defined as four or more persons killed, mass shootings, which are defined as four or more individuals shot, frequently result in no fatalities.
Six mass murders have occurred annually on average in public places since 2006. The Allen shooting is the sixth large-scale public killing so far in 2023.
"This year has been the worst in terms of mass killings up to this point, than any year since at least 2006 and probably ever," said James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology, law, and public policy at Northeastern University who has studied mass killings for 40 years. "This is unlike anything I've ever seen. Americans now possess a greater number of firearms. Since COVID, gun sales have risen dramatically. People in this country are suffering emotionally and financially as a result of the pandemic, and there is a lot of division.
Witnesses to the Texas shooting reported seeing what seemed to be two unconscious police officers and a mall security guard on the ground, along with other casualties who appeared to be youngsters. Dashcam footage that's making the rounds on social media shows the shooter getting out of a car and firing more than twenty shots while horrified customers hid and yelled for help.
At least eight patients had been brought to hospitals, Allen police stated in a Facebook post. Eight patients between the ages of 5 and 61 are being treated, according to a statement from Medical City Healthcare, a medical group in the Dallas area.
At 3:36 pm local time, an Allen Police officer was in the vicinity responding to an unrelated complaint when the officer heard gunshots at Allen Premium Outlets.
"The policeman confronted the culprit and removed the danger. After that, he made an emergency call. Allen Fire Department took nine individuals to nearby hospitals, according to the police Facebook post. The threat is no longer present.
On Saturday night, a large group of shoppers numbering in the hundreds gathered in front of the mall. Officers walked among them and questioned people about what they had observed.
While shopping with his 12-year-old son, Joseph Adams told the Dallas Morning News that he initially believed a "car had driven through the front of the building" until gunshots were heard.
He remarked, "That's how loud it was.
He claimed that after running, he drove past and noticed at least four individuals sprawling on the sidewalk. A child who had been shot in the neck was among those he attempted to assist.
As police searched for the shooter, Adams added, "People were yelling for help and ambulances." "There was just anarchy. As a teacher, all I want to do is help students, so I tried to be as helpful as possible, but it makes me feel terrible to think that I might have put my child in danger by doing so.
Using his headphones, 35-year-old Fontayne Payton could hear gunshots as he was shopping H&M.
