Texas: Body Cam Footage Shows Cop's Response to Allen Mall Shooting
The body camera footage of the Texas mall shooting at Allen Premium Outlet was made public Wednesday following a grand jury's decision not to indict the officer involved in the shooting, according to WFAA.
After reviewing the available evidence, the Texas Rangers and the Collin County District Attorney's Office presented the evidence to the grand jury, who concluded that the officer's use of force was justified under Texas law.
The released body camera footage provides a perspective from the officer's point of view. The video has been edited to conceal the faces of civilians and victims, with certain language removed as per Allen police.
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Texas Allen Mall Shooting Body Cam Video
During the video, the officer's initial interaction with a woman and her children takes a sudden turn as loud pops disrupt the conversation.
Sensing the urgency, the woman quickly moves herself and her children away while the officer retrieves a rifle from his patrol vehicle and notifies dispatch about the gunshots.
With a sense of purpose, the officer swiftly runs towards the stores, following the escalating sound of gunfire. Urgently, he instructs people to evacuate the area and seek shelter, according to NBCDFW.
Approximately one minute and forty seconds after the initial shots, the Texas police officer arrives outside H&M, where he encounters the first victims.
Growing breathless, he communicates his assessment to dispatch, recognizing the gravity of the situation and expressing his intent to reach the scene as quickly as possible.
About three minutes into the incident, the officer returned fire at the gunman. As the shooting subsides, he cautiously approaches the suspect while coordinating with other arriving officers.
Moving forward, the officer relays his progress over the radio, stating that he is advancing toward the gunman's location and urging fellow officers to exercise caution to avoid friendly fire. He confidently reports, "I got him down."
Five minutes after the shooting commenced, law enforcement at the scene confirmed the neutralization of the shooter.
In response to the incident, Allen Police has requested an independent review from the International Association of Chiefs of Police to evaluate the event comprehensively.
The goal is to gain valuable insights and best practices for future training and emergency response.
The Texas Allen Mall Shooting
The tragic Texas mall shooting on May 6 resulted in the devastating loss of eight lives, leaving at least seven others injured and causing profound trauma for numerous individuals, The Dallas Morning News noted.
The victims who tragically lost their lives in the incident were Cho Kyu Song, 37; Kang Shin Young, 35; James Cho, 3; Daniela Mendoza, 11; Sofia Mendoza, 8; Christian LaCour, 20; Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32; and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26.
The officer involved in the incident, whose identity has not been disclosed, has declined interview requests through his attorney.
Following a thorough review, a Collin County grand jury determined on Tuesday that the officer acted appropriately.
Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey acknowledged the rapid escalation from a routine interaction to a life-and-death situation captured in the video footage.
"The officer recognized the danger, ran toward the gunfire, and neutralized the threat - and for his actions, the Allen community is forever grateful," he said.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
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