DALLAS (AP) — The folks killed by a gunman at a mall close to Dallas over the weekend embody two elementary-age sisters, a pair and their youngster, a younger engineer and a safety guard who labored there, and so they represented a multicultural cross-section of the world’s more and more various suburbs.
Cox Elementary College college students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, grades 4 and two, have been amongst these slain Saturday at Allen Premium Shops, based on officers within the Wylie Impartial College District. They have been remembered as “the kindest, most considerate college students with smiles that might mild up any room,” Principal Krista Wilson stated in a letter to folks.
Additionally killed on the outside purchasing heart have been three members of a Korean American household: a pair and one in every of their sons. One other son was wounded and was nonetheless hospitalized, stated Myoung-Joon Kim, head of mission on the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Dallas. The dad and mom have been recognized by the Texas Division of Public Security as Kyu Tune Cho, 37, and Cindy Cho, 35.
Andria Gaither, assistant manger on the mall’s Tommy Hilfiger, stated she was devastated to be taught the day after operating for her life when photographs rang out that one of many useless was Christian LaCour, a safety guard who beforehand labored on the clothes retailer and sometimes stopped in to talk.
Just some nights earlier, she had known as LaCour when a buyer wished in after hours. He got here and requested the person to go away, after which supplied a safety escort to her and two teenage workers.
“He wished us to really feel protected,” Gaither stated.
“I’m simply in shock,” she added. “He was very younger, very candy, got here in on a regular basis to go to with us.”
Additionally killed was Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, who was from India, held a graduate diploma in building administration and labored as a civil engineer at a the Dallas-area agency Good Common Contractors.
She was “at all times ready to provide her easiest,” firm founder Srinivas Chaluvadi stated through electronic mail.
He stated her dad and mom reside in Hyderabad, India, the place her father is a choose.
“She got here to the US with a dream to make a profession, construct a household, personal a house and reside ceaselessly in Dallas,” Chaluvadi stated.
Chaluvadi stated Thatikonda would have turned 27 subsequent week and he or she had turn into like like household: “She attended birthday events at my dwelling, we celebrated festivals collectively and we had household dinners.”
Ashok Kolla, treasurer of the Telugu Affiliation of North America, informed The Dallas Morning Information that he didn’t know Thatikonda however the affiliation usually helps households and he’s working to ship her physique again dwelling.
DPS has recognized the eighth sufferer as Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.
Authorities are nonetheless making an attempt to piece collectively what led to the assault, which ended when the suspected gunman — 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia — was fatally shot by police.
Federal officers are wanting into whether or not Garcia expressed an curiosity in white supremacist ideology, a regulation enforcement official informed The Related Press. The official cautioned that the investigation is in its early phases.
Federal brokers have been reviewing social media accounts they consider Garcia used, in addition to posts that expressed curiosity in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, stated the official, who couldn’t talk about particulars of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity.
Alvarez reported from Los Angeles and Reynolds from Louisville, Kentucky. Related Press author Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed.