Officer who killed Allen mall gunman is ‘a brave servant with a gentle heart,’ lawyer says
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Shooting in Allen, Texas
Here’s everything we know about the May 6, 2023 mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets mall.
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The police officer who confronted and killed the Allen Premium Outlets mall shooter will be honored for his heroism by the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, the nonprofit announced Tuesday in a news release.
The officer, whose identity hasn’t been released, will be awarded the National Hero Award for bravery and dedication to duty, according to the release.
The officer’s attorney described him as “a brave servant with a gentle heart,” the release said. According to the attorney, the officer is “doing well” but asks for privacy as he continues to process the tragedy.
“The officer sprinted towards high-power rifle fire as everyone else ran away,” his attorney, Zack Horn, said in a statement released to media two days after the shooting. “He’s a brave servant with a gentle heart and embodies the best the law enforcement profession has to offer. He’s doing well and would appreciate privacy as he continues to process this life-altering tragedy.”
The officer was at the outlet mall Saturday afternoon on an unrelated call when he heard gunshots and ran toward them, officials said. He killed the suspect, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, and ended the attack that killed eight people and wounded seven, likely preventing more deaths.
The officer shot Garcia about three or four minutes after the gunman got out of his car and opened fire in the parking lot with an AR-15, according to investigators.
The gunman, who investigators say made social media posts expressing a white supremacist ideology, had three weapons on him, including the AR-15 he was seen firing in viral video and a handgun. He had five more weapons in his car, all of which were purchased legally.
The Allen Police Department plans to honor the officer at a later time. Police Chief Brian Harvey said that the officer “distinguished himself in an exemplary manner, demonstrating tremendous bravery when he immediately addressed an attacker that was injuring and murdering innocent victims.”
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, formed in response to last year’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, will honor the officer at a formal ceremony. The date and time haven’t been announced.
The nonprofit’s national director, Daniel Chapin, said the foundation was deeply affected by the Allen mall shooting.
“We are proud to recognize this officer, who join other national heroes across this nation,” Chapin said in the release.
This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 12:17 PM.
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