
Editor’s note: This article has been updated.
Terrifying body camera footage is going viral this week showing a Texas police officer stop a gunman that had opened fire at a shopping mall.
COMING UP ON @GMA: A look at the new body cam footage from the mall shooting in Allen, Texas. @ABCMireya breaks down what it shows about the police’s response, ahead. pic.twitter.com/eXUp9xUv2O
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 29, 2023
Body Camera Footage
Daily Mail reported that Mauricio Garcia, 33, killed eight people, including a three year-old child, when he began shooting outside H&M in Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas on May 6. Chilling body camera footage shows the unnamed police officers go from telling children to wear their seatbelts to grabbing an assault rifle and running towards the gunfire in seconds.
The officer proceeds to start shooting at the gunman from behind a pillar, eventually fatally hitting him.
“I got him down!” the officer exclaims once he realizes that the shooting is finally over.
https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1674175085111046144
Police Chief Praises Officer
“This video shows how quickly a routine interaction with the public turned into a life-and-death situation,” said Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey. “The officer recognized the danger, ran toward the gunfire and neutralized the threat – and for his actions, the Allen community is forever grateful.”
Police released this footage after a grand jury ruled that the use of deadly force in this instance was justified under Texas law.
The Mail reported that the victims ranged in age from 5 to 61. Korean family Cindy Cho, 35, her husband Kyu, 37, and son James, 3, were all fatally shot by Garcia, whom the paper claims was a “white supremacist” with “Neo-Nazi beliefs.” The Cho’s 6 year-old son William survived the tragedy.
Sisters Daniela Mendoza, 10, and eight-year-old Sofia were also victims of this mass shooting, as were engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27, and mall security guard Christian LaCour, 20. The final victim was identified as Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, from Dallas.
Fundraiser by Victims First : Allen, TX Shooting Victims' Fund https://t.co/ZnhiXqVYH9
— Carey Mayfield (@carey_mayfield) June 26, 2023
Related: Progressive Journalist Glenn Greenwald to Sue FBI Over Nashville School Shooter’s Manifesto
Biden Politicizes Shooting
“Eight Americans — including children — were killed yesterday in the latest act of gun violence to devastate our nation,” President Joe Biden said after the shooting. “Jill and I are praying for their families and for others critically injured, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly and courageously to save lives.”
Unsurprisingly, Biden went on to shamelessly politicize this shooting.
“Once again I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks,” he stated. “Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers. I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”
NEW: Pres. Biden issues statement after shooting at mall in Allen, Texas.
"Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug." https://t.co/7rKmPNWEis pic.twitter.com/peexeCiQpA
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 7, 2023
Vice President Kamala Harris wasted no time in politicizing this shooting as well.
“While there is much we do not yet know about this attack, here is what we do know: all Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence. But they are not,” she said, according to Today News. “Not because we do not know the solutions. Not because the American people are divided on this issue – even a majority of gun owners support sensible reforms.”
“President Biden signed the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years and implemented important executive actions, but more must be done,” Harris added. “Send a bill to President Biden that bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, implements universal background checks, and helps keep guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves and others. We need action.”
Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the shooting in Allen, Texas. https://t.co/XUdXbVsOgE
— best of kamala harris (@archivekamala) May 7, 2023
While Democrats politicize this shooting, the rest of us will focus on the unnamed officer whose heroism was displayed in this body camera footage. The video just goes to show how important it is to be grateful to the millions of American police officers who put their lives on the line for the rest of us every day!
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