ALLEN, Texas — Family and friends continue to rally around the victims and survivors of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting that happened Saturday afternoon in Allen, Texas. One survivor, Irvin Walker II, made it out of surgery to remove bullet fragments from the deadly encounter on Monday.
On the day of the shooting, Walker drove past the suspect’s vehicle in order to find a parking spot at the shopping mall and that’s when the gunman, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, began shooting into his car, according to his family.
“While he was shot twice in his chest (one very close to his heart) and once in his right shoulder — thankfully and by the grace of God — he is in stable condition and expected to survive,” his family wrote on a GoFundMe page. “With that being said, Irvin has a long road to recovery and is expected to have surgery to remove the bullets and its fragments from his body.”
Walker came out of recovery “singing” per his family. In just one day, donations from more than 1,200 people resulted in more than $49,000, nearing a set goal of $50,000. An anonymous donor contributed $1,500 to the GoFundMe, among many other gifts, to help Walker on his road to recovery. The deadly shooting, which took the lives of eight men, women and children and injured seven more, called for politicians on both sides of the aisle to act on gun reform by the public.
“Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough,” said President Joe Biden in a statement. “Once again, I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers. I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”
The Dallas Mavericks weighed in on the tragedy, offering support to the victim’s families while encouraging people to take a stand.
“It is our duty to turn words into action to address this multifaceted and growing problem,” the team said. “On behalf of our children and other victims, please contact your federal, state and local representatives to demand action and save lives.”
Vice President Kamala Harris described the shooting now being investigated as a case of “racial or ethnically motivated violent extremism," as a “senseless act of violence.”
“While there is much we do not yet know about this attack, here is what we do know: all Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence,” she said in a statement. “But they are not. Not because we do not know the solutions. Not because the American people are divided on this issue — even a majority of gun owners support sensible reforms.”
A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Walker attended Grambling State University. Friends and colleagues flocked to social media to offer prayers for a speedy recovery. On Tuesday morning, Walker’s family released a statement through his attorney, Daryl K. Washington:
“As we stand with Irvin during this very challenging and emotional time, my team and I are thoroughly investigating the unfortunate circumstances surrounding what is considered the second deadliest mass shooting in America this year,” the statement reads. “There are so many unanswered questions regarding this entire situation, including the gunman’s motive and access to an AR-15 variant rifle and all of the events that might have prevented this horrible incident from occurring. All victims, their loved ones, the Allen community and people around the world deserve answers.
We recognize the outcome could have been much different for Irvin. We send our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the other victims and to the other survivors.”
According to reports, of the other survivors being treated at Medical City’s trauma facilities, two patients remain in good condition, two in fair condition, one in serious condition, one in critical condition, and one patient’s condition remains unknown. The victims range in age from five to 61, per a spokesperson from Medical City.