Local authorities have confirmed the identity of the shooter who killed eight people and injured several others at Allen Premium Outlets Saturday afternoon.
Dallas resident Mauricio Garcia, 33, reportedly carried out the armed attack. Both his parents’ home and an extended-stay motel where he had been staying were searched by local and federal law enforcement, Fox News reported.
Garcia did not have a “serious criminal history,” according to CBS Texas. A reporter for the news outlet clarified in a tweet that there was no evidence Garcia had committed any felonies prior to the massacre, but the outlet could not verify whether the suspect had a history of misdemeanor offenses.
The suspect’s brother, who reportedly shared the same address as Garcia, has a history of criminal offenses, including public intoxication and a home burglary.
Garcia previously worked as a commissioned security guard for multiple security companies, CNN reported.
In a press release posted Sunday afternoon, the Allen Police Department (APD) announced that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) would oversee the investigation.
However, APD, the Texas Rangers, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will assist DPS, KERA reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott appeared on Fox News Sunday and said he would soon visit the Dallas suburb that has been reeling since news of the mass shooting broke.
“I can tell you there are questions that are lingering that the families want answers to. And that is why this happened? Why did that gunman do this? How did this happen? And I know that those families need answers as quickly as possible,” Abbott said.
NBC News spoke with two of Garcia’s neighbors in the northeast Dallas neighborhood where his parents also lived.
“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. I don’t know why people want to shoot innocent people for any reason,” said 52-year-old Moises Carreon.
Another neighbor who would only identify herself by her first name, Julie, told NBC News that Garcia seemed “a little off.”
“He wasn’t somebody you could carry a conversation with,” she said.
A community service and vigil is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen. People can attend in person or watch via live stream on the church website.
