Multiple people have been injured after gunfire erupted at a mall north of Dallas on Saturday, an elected official said, in a shooting that sent shoppers running from stores and to find shelter.
Keith Self, a member of Congress who represents the area north of Dallas that includes the mall, said on Twitter that “a shooter is down and there are multiple casualties” after a shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas.
Around 4:30 p.m. Central time, the Allen Police Department said on Twitter that law enforcement was at the mall and that an “active investigation is underway.”
Sgt. Jessica Pond of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office said there were “some possibly wounded” but could not provide further details.
A video circulating on social media showed people running through a parking lot in front of a shopping center with loud popping sounds in the background.
A livestream from a local Fox television affiliate showed scores of shoppers being evacuated in an orderly fashion from shops like H&M, Michael Kors, American Eagle and Kay Jewelers. Allen Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall about 25 miles north of Dallas, with more than 120 outlet stores. Allen is home to nearly 107,000 people.
Brayson Jones, 17, had arrived early for his shift at the Champs Sports outlet store and was sitting in his car when he heard “probably 20-plus shots” and saw people running out of stores, he said.
Mr. Jones said a stranger ran toward his car and motioned to let him inside, then the two drove away.
“As soon as I heard the shots and people yelling, I didn’t wait to see what was going on, I backed out and got out of there,” he said.
In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.”
Mr. Abbott also said he had been in touch with the mayor of Allen, Ken Fulk, and the director of the Texas Department of Safety, Steven McCraw, to offer “the full support of the State of Texas to local officials to ensure all needed assistance and resources are swiftly deployed.”
