ALLEN, Texas — As the investigation into the Allen Premium Outlets shooting moves forward, calls for legislators to act on stricter gun laws are growing louder. Following the deadly shooting Saturday that claimed the lives of eight people, the National Retail Federation hopes the incident will spur action by those in charge.

What You Need To Know

  • On Saturday, a lone gunman killed eight people and injured at least seven more during a shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas

  • Authorities identified 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, of Dallas, as the suspect. He was killed by police 

  • According to police, the suspect's motives remain unclear and the investigation continues 

“On behalf of NRF staff, our members and leadership, we are horrified by the senseless loss of life on Saturday in Allen, Texas, at a retail outlet mall,” said Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston. “We strongly encourage policymakers to find lasting solutions to prevent these needless acts of violence against innocent victims.”

The risk of working in retail looms for workers. One victim, 20-year-old Christian LaCour, worked as security at the outlet mall. In a news conference on Tuesday, authorities confirmed LaCour saved someone during the incident and attempted to save others before being shot to death by 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia.

“We also must acknowledge the bravery of Allied (Universal) security guard Christian LaCour, who evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others,” Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said. 

Employees and customers described LaCour as a well-liked security guard at the outlet mall.

“Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family,” LaCour’s sister, Brianna Smith, told CNN.

The Allen Premium Outlets shooting edged Texas to No. 2 behind California for most mass shootings in the country. It’s the second mass shooting in the Lone Star state in less than three weeks — a lone gunman earlier shot and killed five of his neighbors in what police described as an “execution-style” shooting in Cleveland, Texas. So far, in 2023, 17 mass shootings have taken place in Texas, while the national average sits at 4.04. The Gun Violence Archive also notes that Texas experienced 214 gun violence deaths so far. 

“The NRF Loss Prevention community has and continues to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies to provide active shooter resources for the retail industry,” Johnston said. “These resources are frequently reviewed to ensure they maintain the latest guidance with DHS, CISA and other agencies. We know that our retailers and malls have these guidelines, as well as their own policies, strong partnerships with law enforcement, employee training programs and updated safety protocols.”

Based on data provided by the Giffords Law Center, Texas leads in guns trafficked across the border with 86% of Texas crime guns purchased in the state. In what many called a rare move by the GOP, legislators voted to advance a bill out of committee that would raise the age limit to purchasing AR-15 style rifles from 18 years old to 21 years old after stalling in the House committee for weeks. However, Gov. Greg Abbott previously spoke out against the bill. Legislators suggest it will die before being scheduled in the Texas Legislature.

“Retailers large and small work every single day to ensure the health and safety of their employees and the customers they serve," Johnston said. "It is a shared and urgent priority for the industry and NRF.”