Allen, Texas Mass Shooter Motivated by White Supremacist Beliefs: Feds

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rollingstone.com

 

Allen, Texas Mass Shooter Motivated by White Supremacist Beliefs: Feds

Jana Winter

4–5 minutes

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Texas Mass Shooter Was Motivated by White Supremacist Beliefs: Feds

The shooting suspect was wearing a “right wing death squad” patch, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stone

Roberto Marquez of Dallas constructs a wooden cross memorial at the scene of a mass shooting a day earlier at Allen Premium Outlets on May 7, 2023 in Allen, Texas. Stewart F. House/Getty Images

The man who shot multiple people at an Allen, Texas mall on Saturday, killing at least eight, served with the U.S. Army in 2008 and “was removed due to mental health concerns,” according to an FBI bulletin reviewed by Rolling Stone. 

The FBI’s “review and triage of the subject’s social media accounts revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.”  

Investigators believe the shooter was a neo-Nazi and incel, according to local and federal law enforcement emails. 

On Saturday, the man, identified as 33-year-old Dallas resident Mauricio Garcia in law enforcement documents, allegedly opened fire at a Allen Premium Outlets. The suspected shooter was killed by police at the scene, where several of the victims were found deceased. Nine additional victims were later transported to the hospital. Another two victims later died at the hospital.

Garcia has no criminal history but is believed to have been associated with a local Neo-Nazi group. He previously reported a lost firearm to authorities, which police believe allowed him to then modify that same firearm in an attempt to make it harder to trace, according to the law enforcement documents reviewed by Rolling Stone. 

Garcia was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, according to law enforcement emails. He was also wearing a tactical vest with an “RWDS” patch — a reference to “right wing death squad,” which is a term used by white supremacists. He had 10 rifle magazines and six pistol magazines on his body.  More handguns and rifles were found in his car, according to law enforcement emails.

The investigation into the shooter’s motives is ongoing, but law enforcement emails circulated throughout North Texas and the federal government early Sunday morning say the shooter may have also been an incel who targeted the Allen Premium Outlets because he believed women would be present. It’s unclear if  the shooter targeted anyone he knew at the mall.

The suspect is a U.S. citizen who has never applied for a passport, the law enforcement documents also noted.