He was the kindest and sweetest, most caring man you’d ever interact with Christian lacour, *** beloved 20 year old Alan Mall security guard, Asharah Tarik, *** young engineer from mckinney Texas among the eight victims killed on Saturday and as the lives lost come into focus. So does the potential ideology and motive of the gunman who took them? Investigators believe the 33 year old shooter killed by an Allen police officer may have been motivated by right wing extremist views. *** law enforcement source close to the investigation says the gunman wore an R W DS insignia, possibly meaning right wing death squad insignia worn in recent years by members of various extremist groups. Say legal experts, it shouldn’t be surprising to anyone that we’re seeing this shooter engaged in anti Semitic or racist white supremacist sort of posts in his social media. Investigators are combing through the shooter’s online profiles and items that may have been collected during weekend search warrants. Some neighbors seem surprised nothing ever showed me any signs of, hey, this guy seems to be the kind of guy that you would do what he did. I know that there are *** lot of let’s say early stories about the shooter out there. People should not jump to conclusions because there’s *** lot of conflicting information about him. Governor Abbott urged patients in the wait for answers in the coming days. The public will be much better informed about why and how this happened.
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Texas outlet mall shooting victims: What we know
Updated: 4:17 PM EDT May 8, 2023
A young security guard who shared laughs with mall employees and an engineer spending a Saturday afternoon shopping with a friend are among the eight people killed when a gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas.At least seven others were injured before the gunman was killed by an Allen police officer who was already at the retail center on an unrelated call, police said.It is one of more than 200 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which like CNN defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter. People going about their daily lives in schools, parks, grocery stores and medical buildings in communities big and small must now grapple with the trauma and grief that lingers when the shooting stops.Here’s what we know so far about those killed in the Texas shooting: Daniela and Sofia MendozaSisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza were both elementary school students in the Wylie Independent School District, according to a letter sent to parents by the district.Daniela was in fourth grade and her sister was in second grade, the letter said. Their mother, Ilda Mendoza, is in the hospital in critical condition.”Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students,” the letter reads. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.”Cox Elementary School Principal Krista Wilson described the sisters as “rays of sunshine” in the letter.”Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten,” the letter read. “Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.”The school district says it is not announcing the news to the students and is leaving it up to parents to have that conversation with their children. Counseling services are being offered for students, staff and families, the letter said.”Please hold the Mendoza family close to your heart. We know in times of tragedy, our community rallies around each other, and we will do all we can to support the family and friends of the precious students we lost.”Christian LaCourChristian LaCour was a well-liked security guard at the outlets.”Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” his sister Brianna Smith told CNN.The 20-year-old was “the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there,” said Max Weiss, a mall store employee.”Every time he was in the store, it felt safer,” Weiss added. “He brought laughter and joy and always knew what to say.”Video below: Full media briefing on the Texas mall shooting Aishwarya ThatikondaAishwarya Thatikonda was killed while visiting the mall with a friend, CNN affiliate WFAA reported.Thatikonda was a few days away from turning 28, Ashok Kolla, a spokesperson with the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) told CNN. The organization helps the Telugu community in the United States.Family and friends described Thatikonda as a loving and hard-working person who was respected by co-workers, Kolla said.Thatikonda worked as an engineer, a family representative told WFAA.She moved to the United States about five years ago to pursue her master’s degree, Kolla said.Thatikonda lived in McKinney, but her family is mourning her loss from their home in India.The family plans to have her body sent to India, Kolla said.CNN has reached out to the consulate general of India in Houston for more information.
A young security guard who shared laughs with mall employees and an engineer spending a Saturday afternoon shopping with a friend are among the eight people killed when a gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas.
At least seven others were injured before the gunman was killed by an Allen police officer who was already at the retail center on an unrelated call, police said.
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It is one of more than 200 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which like CNN defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter.
People going about their daily lives in schools, parks, grocery stores and medical buildings in communities big and small must now grapple with the trauma and grief that lingers when the shooting stops.
Here’s what we know so far about those killed in the Texas shooting:
Christian LaCour
Christian LaCour was a well-liked security guard at the outlets.
“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” his sister Brianna Smith told CNN.
The 20-year-old was “the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there,” said Max Weiss, a mall store employee.
“Every time he was in the store, it felt safer,” Weiss added. “He brought laughter and joy and always knew what to say.”
Video below: Full media briefing on the Texas mall shooting
Aishwarya Thatikonda
Aishwarya Thatikonda was killed while visiting the mall with a friend, CNN affiliate WFAA reported.
Thatikonda was a few days away from turning 28, Ashok Kolla, a spokesperson with the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) told CNN. The organization helps the Telugu community in the United States.
Family and friends described Thatikonda as a loving and hard-working person who was respected by co-workers, Kolla said.
Thatikonda worked as an engineer, a family representative told WFAA.
She moved to the United States about five years ago to pursue her master’s degree, Kolla said.
Thatikonda lived in McKinney, but her family is mourning her loss from their home in India.
The family plans to have her body sent to India, Kolla said.
CNN has reached out to the consulate general of India in Houston for more information.
