'It was nonstop': Survivors describe horror of Allen, Texas mall shooting that killed 8, injured 7

A video captured shoppers at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas reacting to gunshots by screaming, ducking behind rows of parked cars, and running across the parking lot.

As per CNN witnesses, individuals such as employees, shoppers, and families with young children took refuge in storage areas or back hallways within the extensive complex.

The affluent suburb of Allen, which is around 25 miles north of Dallas, witnessed a massacre that resulted in the killing of eight individuals and injuries to at least seven others by the end of the deadly rampage.

According to police, the shooter was at the mall and was killed by an officer from the Allen Police Department who was responding to a different call. The authorities suspect that the gunman operated on his own.

CNN has obtained a picture that displays the shooter lying on the ground, seemingly after being shot, with an AR-15-style weapon close by. The shooter is dressed in black armor and seems to have a number of additional magazines attached to their chest.

ABC News has been informed by numerous law enforcement sources that as investigators attempt to establish a reason for the shooting, they are considering whether it was an incident of domestic terrorism.

Sources indicated that the shooter sported patches or stickers on his attire that aroused doubt that he could have leaned towards right-wing radicalism, but they revealed that no reason had been determined so far.

WFAA reported that federal agents were spotted at a Dallas residence suspected to be linked to the perpetrator.

According to sources, federal investigators are examining the suspect's electronic devices and social media in an effort to comprehend the factors that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including children.

Investigators found more guns in a vehicle linked to the shooter, along with the rifle that was used in the shooting.

With the help of the FBI, ATF, and Allen police, the Texas Rangers are the primary agency handling the case.

According to Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd, there were nine individuals who were immediately taken to trauma centers. Two of them have passed away, while three others are in critical condition and are receiving surgical treatment. The remaining four victims are currently in stable condition as of Saturday evening.

Patients as young as 5 years old were attended to by a medical group based in Dallas.

According to an observer named Kingsley Ezeh, he was strolling in the shopping center when individuals trailing him suddenly began sprinting.

He said that he looked back and noticed two women hurrying towards him. One of them exclaimed, "There's a shooter! There's a shooter!"

Ezeh observed a man holding his neck with blood dripping down behind the women who were running away.

According to Ezeh, he and other people took refuge in the rear of a shop for approximately one hour until the authorities arrived to rescue them. Several eyewitnesses claimed that they stayed put for as long as two hours while the police removed any danger from the area.

The aerial footage showcased numerous shoppers, some with raised hands, navigating through police vehicles and ambulances while being accompanied out of the area. The video footage additionally indicates that there were no less than three individuals whose bodies were covered by sheets lying outside the shopping mall.

According to Republican US Representative Keith Self, whose responsibilities involve Allen, law enforcement's swift response prevented the attack from being more lethal.

Self expressed our indebtedness to the swift and brave first responders who approached the gunshots and promptly dealt with the danger.

Once again, the brutal killing represented another mass killing at a location commonly considered safe by Americans, such as schools, supermarkets, and Fourth of July festivals.

In the same week, there was also a shooting at a medical facility in Atlanta where a woman was killed and four others were wounded by a gunman.

According to the Gun Violence Archive and CNN, what is defined as mass shootings in the US are incidents in which four or more people get shot, excluding the perpetrator, and there have been almost 200 of such incidents in the first five months of this year.

According to Fox News, Gov. Greg Abbott has plans to make a visit to Allen later on Sunday.

Abbott acknowledged that families have unanswered questions, including "what caused this event, why did the shooter carry it out, and how did it transpire." He emphasized that it is crucial to provide answers promptly to satisfy the families' need for answers.

President Joe Biden mandated that flags be lowered to half-staff until the end of Thursday.

The shooting occurred repeatedly. Kimberly Blakey recounted that she and her 14-year-old daughter were part of the group attempting to escape the parking area during the assault.

"It was relentless," she recounted, describing the shooting as a continuous and repetitive occurrence.

Blakey rushed to escape but at first drove in the direction of the gunshots until her daughter instructed her to turn back. However, they encountered a group of vehicles attempting to exit and became trapped behind them.

At that moment, she sensed her vehicle being struck twice by bullets.

Blakey said that he instructed his daughter to come down, and she complied, following which he could hear her beginning to pray.

Despite the warning light indicating a flat tire, the duo continued driving until they reached their destination, not halting in the parking lot.

Blakey stated that they were on a mission to leave that place.

Tiffany Gipson, an employee at the Fatburger restaurant in the mall, along with some customers, took refuge in a hallway located behind the restaurant.

Gipson expressed that they had never encountered such an event before and found it to be extremely distressing. They elaborated that they already experience anxiety and seizures, which exacerbates the impact of the situation.

ABC News contributed to this report.

More News from Mount Sinai

• Bob's Stores to Close Its Doors: Retailer Announces Liquidation Sale Bob's Stores to Close Its Doors: Retailer Announces Liquidation Sale
• Escape the Ordinary: Where to Go on Vacation this Summer Escape the Ordinary: Where to Go on Vacation this Summer