Gunman in Allen mall shooting had 8 legally purchased weapons with him, officials say

ALLEN — The gunman accused in the mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets brought with him eight legally purchased weapons, authorities said at a news conference Tuesday.

Three of the weapons were on him and five others were in his vehicle at the time of the shooting, said Hank Sibley, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s North Texas regional director. It was unclear where he bought them or what kind of weapons they were.

The briefing at Allen City Hall was the first time authorities have briefed the public since Saturday’s massacre, when, at two news conferences — opportunities for media to ask for details — officials declined to answer questions.

Only six questions, which spanned about three minutes, were answered Tuesday.

The shooting Saturday about 3:30 p.m. killed eight people and wounded seven others at the mall in the 800 block of West Stacy Road, near U.S. Highway 75. Seven people were pronounced dead at the scene including the gunman, who was shot by a police officer. Two others died at the hospital.

Of the seven additional people who were wounded, one was in critical condition, one was in serious condition, two were in fair condition and two were in good condition, Medical City Healthcare said Tuesday morning. It was unclear at what hospital the final patient was being treated or their condition.

Sibley said determining the gunman’s motive is the focus of the investigation.

“Why did he do this? Well, the big question is, we don’t know,” Sibley said. “That’s what the investigation is trying to find out.”

Sibley confirmed, however, that the gunman had a neo-Nazi ideation. He said investigators haven’t found a manifesto yet to his knowledge, but are analyzing the gunman’s cellphone and computer.

A social media profile reviewed by The Dallas Morning News that appeared to be tied to the gunman showed he had espoused an obsession with violence and extremist ideology. Asked whether investigators were aware of a website where the gunman appeared to post photos of a swastika on his arm, Sibley said officials are aware of the site and are investigating it.

“To me, it looks like he targeted the location rather than a specific group of people,” Sibley said. “He was very random in the people he killed. It didn’t matter the age, same race or sex. He just shot people — which is horrific in itself.”

Authorities also noted warrants were carried out at two locations, which sources previously told The News were a Budget Suites hotel and a home in northeast Dallas. Sibley said the man was not on law enforcement’s radar before the shooting, and stated it’s too early to classify the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism.

Sibley confirmed reports that the gunman was in basic training in the military in 2008, but said officials questioned whether he was fit for duty. He said the gunman also had an expired private security license and worked at multiple private security firms.

The gunman had not previously worked at Allen Premium Outlets, Sibley said.

Gunman ordered from Garland store

The News learned Tuesday that the gunman ordered a rare rifle and two handguns from a Garland gun store in 2021, putting down a $100 deposit for each. But the guns were on back order and difficult to get, especially during the pandemic, said John Mannewitz, who owns Targetmaster with his family.

In February, after two years of waiting, the gunman requested the return of his $300 deposit and received it, Mannewitz said. The rifle, a KR-103, is similar to the AK-47 and costs about $1,000, he said. But the ammunition is less expensive than for other semi-automatic rifles, he said.

The SIG Sauer P226 and the Beretta 92FS pistols were also difficult to acquire at the time, he said.

”I’m kind of surprised he waited two years,” Mannewitz said.

FBI agents came by the store on Sunday to ask about the gunman, said Mannewitz.

”There’s nothing about him I remember,” he said.

‘Saved countless lives’

Allen police Chief Brian Harvey said the Allen police officer who killed the gunman within three to four minutes of the first shots demonstrated “tremendous bravery,” but added officials aren’t prepared to release his name.

Sibley said the officer “undoubtedly saved countless lives.”

“If he hadn’t been there,” Sibley said, “I think we’d have had a much more severe situation.”

The victims killed Saturday were identified as Cho Kyu Song, 37; Kang Shin Young, 35; James Cho, 3; Daniela Mendoza, 11; Sofia Mendoza, 8; Christian LaCour, 20; Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32; and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26.

Harvey commended LaCour, who was a security guard at the mall. Harvey said LaCour was able to get one person to safety before he was killed while trying to help others.

Photos: Official update public on details of Allen mall shooting during press briefing at Allen City Hall

10 images

View Gallery

FBI Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough said the FBI’s victim services team and community partners have provided resources to over 30 families and over 100 people so far. In addition, 1,100 vehicles have been returned to their owners.

Yarbrough said people can retrieve their personal belongings left at the mall at the family assistance center at the Allen Senior Recreation Center, 451 St. Mary Drive. The center will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Our community also responded with an overwhelming show of support for the victims, the victims’ families and public safety,” Harvey said. “And we are grateful.”

Now that investigators have finished processing the crime scene, property managers will decide when to reopen the mall.

The investigation is ongoing and now being led by the Texas Rangers.