Texas Mall Shooter Who Killed 8 People Accused Of Having "Neo-Nazi" Motivations, Despite Being Hispanic
The media is claiming that the shooter, Mauricio Garcia, was a white supremacist whose attack at an outlet mall was racially motivated.
On Saturday, a horrific mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, a Dallas suburb, claimed the lives of at least eight people and left seven others wounded. The victims' ages ranged from 5 to 61 years old. The gunman, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, was dressed in tactical gear and armed with an AR-15 style rifle, as well as at least one other weapon. The incident has become headline news that has sparked another conversation about gun control, despite the fact that the outlet mall where he opened fire was declared a gun-free zone.
Texas Mall Shooter Who Killed 8 People Accused of Having "Neo-Nazi" Motivations
A police officer who was already at the mall for an unrelated call responded to the sound of gunshots and killed Garcia after he opened fire and killed several people and injured several others. Authorities later found multiple weapons in his car. Garcia had previously worked as a security guard, during which time he received firearms training.
The investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, with authorities exploring potential ties to right-wing extremism. Garcia was found wearing an insignia reading "RWDS," which may stand for "Right Wing Death Squad." However, the meaning of this acronym is not confirmed, and some are pointing out that it comes from Urban Dictionary.
His extensive social media presence allegedly featured neo-Nazi and White supremacist-related posts, and investigators discovered that he had briefly served in the U.S. Army in 2008 before being terminated three months later without completing initial entry training.
Although officials have not confirmed a specific motive, the shooting is being investigated as a case of racial or ethnically motivated violent extremism. Authorities believe Garcia acted alone and are currently interviewing his relatives and friends. However, as his photo and name are being shared across social media platforms, people can't help but see that he is clearly Hispanic, so the claim that he is a white supremacist leaves many people questioning how that could possibly make any sense.
The tragic incident marks the second deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year and the second in Texas in just over a week. The community is left reeling, with the neighbors of the shooter expressing shock and disbelief at the unfolding events. Julie, a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous, described Garcia as someone who "seemed a little off" and struggled to carry on a conversation.
Gilda Bailey, another neighbor, shared her confusion over what could have triggered such a violent act: "I don’t understand what triggered him." Moises Carreon, a 52-year-old neighbor, expressed the chilling reality of living near someone capable of such violence: "Just the thought of living a few houses down from someone who can do this can be a little scary and give you more caution."
As the investigation continues, Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged the public not to jump to conclusions about Garcia's ideology or motivations, saying, "Let the investigators work through the guy's background, and I think once you see more information about the guy's background, it will reveal a little bit more about why this happened."
The Allen Police Department reported that Medical City McKinney is treating four patients, with one in fair condition and three in critical condition.