As its community continues to recover from a mass shooting earlier this month, Allen Premium Outlets will remain closed in the wake of the tragedy that occurred there.
On May 6, a heavily armed shooter entered the property and opened fire on shoppers. Nearby law enforcement neutralized the shooter minutes after the shooting began, but not before he had shot and killed eight people, including three children from two families, and wounded seven others, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Police later identified the shooter as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia. The Dallas resident had no prior felonies and had previously worked as a commissioned security guard for multiple security companies.
Texans and local community members have since gathered at memorials to honor those killed. One of these memorials stood outside the mall, with large crosses bearing the names of each victim.
According to NBC DFW, this memorial has since been cleared from the property.
Mall officials initially said the mall would remain closed until all memorials and funeral services concluded. The Allen Premium Outlets website now states that the mall will remain closed to the public “until further notice.”
“As a proud member of the Allen community, we continue to grieve for the eight innocent lives lost, their families, those who were injured, and all who are struggling in the face of this tragedy,” mall officials said in a statement on the website. “As we move forward, the needs of our retailers and our community will guide when and how we reopen the center.”
The website noted no potential reopening date, but the hours of operation page indicated its stores are closed at least through Memorial Day.
The City of Allen urged citizens impacted by the events of May 6 to either call or email their Help Line for access to services and resources such as those for mental health, counseling, and more.
