By JAKE BLEIBERG, MICHAEL BALSAMO and JAMIE STENGLE (Related Press)
ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Federal officers are wanting into whether or not the gunman who killed eight folks at a Dallas-area mall expressed an curiosity in white supremacist ideology Sunday as they work to discern a motive for the assault, a regulation enforcement official advised The Related Press. The official cautioned the investigation is in its early levels.
Federal brokers have been reviewing social media accounts they consider have been utilized by Mauricio Garcia, 33, and posts that expressed curiosity in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, mentioned the official, who couldn’t focus on particulars of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity.
Garcia additionally had a patch on his chest when he was killed by police that learn “RWDS,” an acronym for the phrase “Proper Wing Loss of life Squad,” which is common amongst right-wing extremists and white supremacy teams, the official mentioned.
Along with reviewing social media posts, federal brokers have interviewed relations and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs, the official mentioned. Investigators are additionally reviewing monetary information, different on-line posts they consider Garcia made and different digital media, in response to the official.
Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey declined Sunday night to reply questions from the AP, saying of the investigation, “we truly don’t have rather a lot.”
The Texas Division of Public Security recognized Garcia as suspected of killing eight folks at a Texas outlet mall, a day after the assault turned a day of purchasing right into a bloodbath.
Garcia was fatally shot Saturday by a police officer who occurred to be close to the suburban Dallas mall.
A regulation enforcement official mentioned investigators have been looking a Dallas motel close to an interstate the place Garcia had been staying. The official mentioned police additionally discovered a number of weapons on the scene after Garcia was killed, together with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun.
Two regulation enforcement officers mentioned investigators additionally searched a Dallas dwelling related to the suspect. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity so as to focus on particulars of an ongoing investigation.
A girl who lives three homes down from the low brick home mentioned she noticed a big group of uniformed officers go into the house Saturday between 6 p.m. and seven p.m.
“They went in like actual quick, and I seen them try this like twice,” mentioned Marsha Alexander, who mentioned officers have been nonetheless within the space when she went to mattress round 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. They have been passed by Sunday morning.
On Sunday afternoon, a lady named Julie was sitting on the porch of her home, subsequent door to the one searched the day earlier than. She declined to offer her final identify to an AP reporter however mentioned she awoke from a nap round 6 p.m. Saturday to see 4 police squad automobiles and a big group of officers exterior her neighbor’s dwelling.
She mentioned they entered the house and have been joined about an hour later by FBI brokers and different folks sporting plainclothes, who she additionally took to be regulation enforcement.
The girl mentioned she didn’t know her neighbors properly, however knew them to be “very well mannered, very good folks.” She mentioned the person she now understands to have been the shooter was all the time pleasant and would wave or honk his horn as he got here and went.
At about 2 p.m. Sunday, a person entered the house that was searched, however when reporters knocked on the door and waited, nobody answered.
In a press release, President Joe Biden mentioned the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon. He urged Congress to enact tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition.
“Such an assault is just too stunning to be so acquainted. And but, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this yr, in response to main counts,” mentioned Biden, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff.
Republicans in Congress, he mentioned, “can’t proceed to satisfy this epidemic with a shrug.”
The taking pictures was the most recent assault to contribute to the unprecedented tempo of mass killings this yr within the U.S. Barely every week earlier than, 5 folks have been fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor requested a person to cease firing his weapon whereas a child slept, authorities mentioned.
This yr has seen a mean of about one mass killing per week, in response to a database maintained by The Related Press and USA At the moment in partnership with Northeastern College.
Details about the gunman in Allen emerged because the neighborhood mourned the useless and awaited phrase on the seven individuals who have been wounded. Authorities haven’t publicly recognized those that have been killed.
The wounded remained hospitalized Sunday, three in crucial situation and 4 in truthful situation, the Allen Police Division mentioned in a press release.
John Mark Caton, senior pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church about two miles from the mall, provided prayers throughout a daily Sunday morning service for victims, first responders and the consumers and workers who “walked out previous issues they by no means ought to have seen.”
“A few of our folks have been there. Some maybe on this room. A few of our college students have been working in these shops and will probably be modified eternally by this,” Caton mentioned.
Caton provided related sentiments throughout a Sunday evening vigil on the church attended by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed legal guidelines easing firearms restrictions following previous mass shootings in Texas, and different elected leaders. Earlier that day, Abbott mentioned on Fox Information that Texas wouldn’t enact gun management now.
“Individuals desire a fast answer,” Abbott mentioned. “The long run answer right here is to deal with the psychological well being concern.”
The assault unfolded at Allen Premium Shops, a sprawling outside purchasing heart. Witnesses reported seeing youngsters among the many victims. Some mentioned additionally they noticed what gave the impression to be a police officer and a mall safety guard unconscious on the bottom.
Andria Gaither, the assistant supervisor on the Tommy Hilfiger clothes retailer, mentioned Sunday she was behind the shop Saturday afternoon when she noticed two younger ladies attempting to cover in a dressing room. At first, she thought they have been taking part in. Then she heard one say pictures have been being fired.
Gaither regarded round to see clients and the shop supervisor operating to the again of the shop. Ultimately, Gaither and the others ran out a again door.
“As quickly as I acquired exterior the again of the shop, you might hear the taking pictures,” Gaither mentioned Sunday. “It was so loud. I’d by no means ever heard something like that in my life. It was deafening.”
Allen, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas and with a inhabitants of about 105,000 residents, is among the many Dallas-Fort Price space’s various suburbs. The realm noticed the biggest Asian American progress price of any main U.S. metro space, in response to U.S. Census figures. These statistics present Allen’s inhabitants is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.
Allen is also related to a different of Texas’ latest mass shootings. Patrick Crusius lived there in 2019 earlier than he posted a racist screed on-line that warned of a “Hispanic invasion” and drove to El Paso, the place he opened hearth at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded responsible to federal hate crime and weapons expenses in February.
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Balsamo reported from Washington, and Stengle reported from Dallas. Related Press writers Vanessa Alvarez in New York, James Vertuno in Austin, Adam Kealoha Causey in Dallas, Gene Johnson in Seattle and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.