Mass Shooting in Texas, USA... Including 3 Members of a Korean-American Family (Comprehensive)
by Choi Taewon
Published 08 May.2023 19:42(KST)
8 Dead and 7 Injured
A mass shooting occurred at a shopping mall in the Dallas suburb of Texas, USA, and it has been confirmed that among the eight victims, three members of a Korean-American family were included.
![On the 7th (local time), residents are erecting crosses at the entrance of the Premium Outlets store in Allen, Dallas, Texas, USA, in memory of the victims of the shooting incident that occurred the previous day. On the 6th, a shooting incident at the shopping mall resulted in at least nine deaths, including the suspect. [Image source=Yonhap News]](http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/img_view.htm?img=2023050819405623843_1683542456.jpg)
On the 7th (local time), residents are erecting crosses at the entrance of the Premium Outlets store in Allen, Dallas, Texas, USA, in memory of the victims of the shooting incident that occurred the previous day. On the 6th, a shooting incident at the shopping mall resulted in at least nine deaths, including the suspect. [Image source=Yonhap News]
View original imageAccording to the Dallas branch of the Houston Consulate General on the 7th (local time), at around 3:36 p.m. the previous day, a Korean-American couple in their 30s, Mr. Jo and Ms. Kang, and their 3-year-old child were shot and killed at the 'Allen Premium Outlets' in the Dallas suburb. Their other child, a 5-year-old, was seriously injured and was transferred to a hospital on the same day for treatment.
The entire family holds U.S. citizenship. Local Korean media reported that the couple were both professionals and had a good reputation in the community.
According to local U.S. media, on the 6th, a man opened fire immediately after getting out of his car in the parking lot in front of the outlet, killing eight people and injuring at least seven others.
The perpetrator was a 33-year-old man named Mauricio Garcia, who was shot and killed by police at the scene. A police officer who had been dispatched to the mall for another report immediately rushed to the scene and engaged in a gunfight, ultimately subduing the suspect. Local police believe he acted alone.
The motive for the crime has not yet been revealed, but it has been reported that he was involved in far-right and extremist activities on social media, raising the possibility that this was a hate crime. CNN cited sources saying the deceased suspect was wearing a patch with the letters 'RWDS' on his clothing. This acronym stands for 'Right Wing Death Squad,' known to represent a far-right group.
Foreign media are also paying attention to the racial composition of the area where the incident occurred. According to U.S. Census statistics, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, which includes Allen, has recently seen the highest growth rate of Asian populations among major U.S. metropolitan areas, AP News noted.
Statistics show that among Allen’s total population of 105,000, about 19% are Asian, 10% are Black, and 11% are Hispanic.