Dallas: At a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday, a shooter opened fire, killing nine people and injuring at least seven others, according to police.
Police Chief Brian Harvey of Allen, Texas, said at a press conference that the gunman, who authorities said they believe acted alone, was shot and killed by a police officer after opening fire outside of the Allen Premium Outlets mall.
At least nine victims with gunshot wounds were taken to local hospitals by the Allen fire department, according to Jon Boyd, chief of the department, and two of them passed away.
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Eight of the injured victims, whose ages ranged from 5 to 61, were being treated in trauma centres at Medical City Healthcare's 16 hospitals in the area, according to a statement. What condition they were in was not disclosed by the hospital.
After the violence broke out, hundreds of people were seen calmly leaving the mall, which is located about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Dallas, as dozens of police officers stood guard. Many of them had their hands raised.
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The gunman was "walking down the sidewalk just... shooting his gun outside," according to an unnamed eyewitness who spoke to the local ABC affiliate WFAA TV, and "he was just shooting his gun everywhere for the most part."
Outside the mall, there were bloody sidewalks and what appeared to be bodies were covered in white sheets. In a statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott described the shooting as a "unspeakable tragedy" and stated that his state was ready to provide whatever help local authorities might require.
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About 100,000 people live in the community of Allen, Texas. According to the Gun Violence Archive, mass shootings have become commonplace in the United States. At least 198 have occurred so far in 2023, which is the most at this stage of the year since at least 2016. A mass shooting, according to the nonprofit organisation, is one in which four or more people are hurt or killed, excluding the shooter.