The gunman who killed eight people at a mall in Allen, Texas on Saturday had reportedly served in the U.S. Army.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, served in the Army in 2008 but was eventually “removed due to mental health concerns,” law enforcement sources briefed on the probe told ABC News on Sunday.
It is unclear what exactly those mental health issues were, when Garcia served or what his military occupational specialty was, according to the outlet.
The Texas Department of Public Safety identified Garcia as the person responsible for the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, which also wounded seven others. They range in age from 5 to 61.
A number of weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun were found on the scene.
According to the New York Post, Garcia completed several firearms proficiency courses in 2015 and 2018 as part of his security guard work.
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Garcia was greenlighted to work as a commissioned security guard in Texas from April 2016 to April 2020 and had three previous employers before his license expired, according to the Texas Online Private Security database.
A police officer who was at the mall on another call “neutralized” Garcia, according to the Allen, Texas police department.
Investigators are also looking into whether Garcia held neo-Nazi views after lawmen found a patch on his chest with the acronym “RWDS,” short for Right Wing Death Squad, a popular phrase among white supremacy groups, according to the Associated Press.
Garcia’s reported social media accounts also appear to support white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, AP reported.
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An internal email being disseminated within Texas law enforcement has also revealed that police believe the shooter was an “incel,” or “involuntary celibate,” according to the Post.
An incel refers to a person, typically a young man, who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner and express hostility to people who can.
The wounded victims remained in the hospital Sunday, with three in critical condition number The wounded victims remained in the hospital Sunday, with three in critical condition and four in fair condition, the Allen Police Department said.
Authorities searched a nearby motel where Garcia stayed and his parents’ Dallas-area home, according to the Post.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.