Mauricio Garcia and the 2023 Allen Premium Outlets Massacre
The May 6, 2023 Attack
On May 6, 2023, Mauricio Martinez Garcia carried out a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, a large outdoor shopping center at 820 West Stacy Road in Allen, Texas. The attack began at approximately 3:36 p.m. on a busy Saturday afternoon, when the shopping center was crowded with families, employees, security personnel and other visitors.
Garcia, a 33-year-old resident of the Dallas area, arrived in a silver vehicle and parked near the section of the outlet mall containing the H&M store. He was dressed in black clothing, tactical equipment and a ballistic-style vest carrying ammunition magazines. After stepping out of the vehicle, he opened fire on people outside the stores with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle.
Garcia fired repeatedly at shoppers and employees as he moved along the exterior walkway of the shopping center. Witnesses described hearing rapid bursts of gunfire as people ran into stores, hid in stockrooms and attempted to help children and injured victims. Employees locked doors and directed customers away from the gunman, while others sheltered behind counters or inside back rooms.
Within only a few minutes, Garcia shot 15 people. Eight victims were killed, including three children, and seven other people were wounded. The victims included members of two families, a mall security guard, an engineer and a man who had immigrated to the United States from Venezuela.
Victims Killed at Allen Premium Outlets
- Kyu Song Cho, 37 - Killed on May 6, 2023, at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas. Cho was visiting the shopping center with his wife and two young sons during a family outing.
- Shin Young "Cindy" Kang Cho, 35 - Killed on May 6, 2023, at Allen Premium Outlets. She was Kyu Cho's wife and the mother of James and William Cho.
- James Cho, 3 - Killed on May 6, 2023, with his parents at Allen Premium Outlets. His six-year-old brother survived the attack after being wounded.
- Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26 - Killed on May 6, 2023, at Allen Premium Outlets. She was an engineer originally from India who was living and working in the Dallas area.
- Daniela Mendoza, 11 - Killed on May 6, 2023, at Allen Premium Outlets. Daniela was a fourth-grade student in the Wylie Independent School District.
- Sofia Mendoza, 8 - Killed on May 6, 2023, alongside her older sister Daniela. Sofia was a second-grade student. Their mother was wounded during the attack.
- Christian LaCour, 20 - Killed on May 6, 2023, while working as a security guard at Allen Premium Outlets. He was remembered for attempting to assist people during the shooting.
- Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32 - Killed on May 6, 2023, at Allen Premium Outlets. He was originally from Venezuela and had come to the United States seeking greater safety and opportunity.
The Cho Family
Kyu Cho, Cindy Cho and their sons, six-year-old William and three-year-old James, were at the outlet mall for a family shopping trip. The family had reportedly gone to exchange clothing that had been purchased as a birthday gift for William. Garcia's attack killed both parents and James. William was seriously wounded but survived, becoming the only surviving member of his immediate family.
Reports describing the family's final moments indicated that Cindy Cho attempted to shield William during the gunfire. The deaths of three members of one family became one of the most devastating aspects of the massacre. Relatives and community members later organized support for William as he recovered from his injuries and faced the loss of his parents and younger brother.
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