Texas police confirmed that there are multiple victims in a shooting that occurred at a shopping center near Dallas.
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Police are responding to a shooting at a mall in the Dallas, Texas area, and there are reports of multiple victims and the gunman being killed.
Texas authorities responded to reports of a deadly “active shooting situation” at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon, according to Fox 4 Dallas.
The Collin County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that at least nine people were taken to hospitals and there is an unknown death toll.
Brian E. Harvey, police chief of Allen, Texas, north of Dallas, said it was too soon to give an exact death toll.
It was also reported at a press conference that the suspected shooter is dead and that Allen Police Department officers are on the scene. The suspected shooter was “neutralized” by a city police officer who was in the area responding to another call, Harvey said.
The shooting reportedly happened around 3:30 p.m. at the Allen Premium Outlets located at 820 W. Stacy Road.
Local outlet WFAA-TV reported that several people were killed in the shooting, including the shooter, and that the victims included children.
The ATF Field Division in Dallas said on Twitter that it was an “active shooter situation” at 4:30 p.m.
.@ATFDallas ATF personnel are responding to the active shooter incident at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, TX. Allen Police Department is the point of contact and will release more information as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/ntQXLIK4bs
— ATF Dallas (@ATFDallas) May 6, 2023
Congressman Keith Self told CNN's Paula Reid that there are multiple victims, but declined to specify a number, saying he would leave that information to law enforcement.
“The shooter is dead and law enforcement told me there was only one shooter, now they have confirmed it,” Republican Rep. Keith Self told CNN. “Now there are multiple victims, but I'm going to let law enforcement announce it. The scene is now safe but it's fluid.”
We are devestated by the tragic news of the shootings that took place at the Allen Premium Outlets today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and all law enforcement on the scene.
— Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) May 6, 2023
This is an ongoing situation, but Allen PD has full control of the scene. A…
Police believe they have identified the vehicle of the suspected dead gunman, which is being examined by the bomb squad as a precaution.
Law enforcement officers helped shoppers evacuate the mall and cleared the mall, where there are at least 120 businesses, to make sure no hazards remained, according to witness accounts, cited by various media outlets.
The city of Allen issued a public safety alert warning residents to stay away from the area.
Governor Greg Abbott called the situation an “unspeakable tragedy.” “Our hearts go out to the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy,” Abott said.
The United States has experienced at least 198 mass shootings so far this year, according to the organization Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator of the attack.