Cole Allen Identified As Shooter In Texas Mall Incident

Cole Allen Identified As Shooter In Texas Mall Incident...

Authorities have named Cole Allen as the suspected shooter in a violent incident at a Texas shopping mall that left three injured on Saturday. The 24-year-old was arrested hours after the shooting at the Galleria Dallas, where panic erupted as shoppers fled gunfire.

The Dallas Police Department confirmed Allen fired multiple rounds near a food court before fleeing. Two bystanders and a security guard sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Allen faces aggravated assault charges, with investigators examining a possible dispute as the motive.

The case gained national attention after surveillance footage showed the chaotic scene. Social media users circulated videos of the aftermath, pushing the story to trend on Google Trends. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called the incident "a stark reminder of the work needed to address gun violence."

Witnesses described hearing loud pops before seeing people running. "It was pure chaos—people were screaming, dropping their bags," said shopper Maria Hernandez, who hid in a store until police arrived. The mall reopened Sunday with increased security.

Allen remains in custody with bail set at $500,000. Court records show no prior violent offenses, though he was cited for misdemeanor trespassing in 2023. Federal authorities are reviewing whether to add firearms charges.

The shooting follows a 12% rise in US mass shootings this year compared to 2025, per Gun Violence Archive data. Texas lawmakers are facing renewed calls to tighten gun laws after recent permitless carry expansions.

Dallas PD will hold a community safety forum Thursday. Meanwhile, victims' families have started a GoFundMe for medical expenses, raising over $40,000 as of this morning.