Dallas Galleria Mall shooting: One person injured, suspect still at large as calls for gun control grow loud
DALLAS, TEXAS: A shooting was reported in Nordstrom's department store in the Dallas Galleria Mall on Tuesday evening. Police call logs showed more than a dozen units responding to a shooting call in the 13300 block of Dallas Parkway about 6:45 pm local time. One person was shot and was taken to Parkland hospital.
The suspect is still at large and the Dallas police are reviewing the video cameras and searching the mall for the suspect. Dallas police said this is not an active shooter. Reports say the shooting started as a dispute between two people.
Earlier today, DFWScanner, a public safety news and information service tweeted, "Shooting (Dallas) Multiple Dallas PD are investigating a possible shooting at the Galleria Mall, 13300 Dallas Parkway. Heavy police activity. Please avoid the mall at this time. Details will be published when released by officials."
The Dallas Police Department's official Twitter account wrote, "One person was shot inside of the Galleria Mall. The suspect is currently at large at this time. DFR transported the complainant to Parkland Hospital, unknown condition. Officers are reviewing the video cameras and searching the mall for the suspect. Not an active shooter case."
This is a developing story. No further information is available at the time.
News of the shooting in Galleria Mall which was crowded amid the coronavirus pandemic led many to question the current protests calling to defund the police. However, others responded by pointing out that the shooting amplifies the need for gun control laws.
One user tweeted, "There are over 4,400 new cases of coronavirus in Texas so far... but never let it be said that a mere pandemic can come between Texans and their love for guns and shooting," while another wrote, "Active Shooter at the Galleria mall. Now we get to highlight that we need [to] defund the police AND get better Gun Laws. Yayyy."
A user opined, "imagine your first thought about the galleria mall shooting is 'HA AND YOU IDIOTS WANTED TO DEFUND THE POLICE' and not 'America really has a gun problem we aren't trying to fix at all'." Another tweeted, "love that there's an active shooter in Dallas' galleria mall and the republicans are mocking 'defund the police' as opposed to 'we also have an American gun problem'."
A user wrote, "News: “There’s an active shooter at the Galleria!” Morons: “bEt YoU dOn’T wAnT tO dEfUnD tHe PoLiCe NoW!” Me: “Yeah because they’ve been so effective at stopping mass shooters before this.” STOP MAKING IT SO EASY FOR IDIOTS TO HAVE GUNS & SHOOTINGS WILL STOP, TOO!"
Many took to criticize Texas Governor, Greg Abbott who had tweeted in 2015, "I'm EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in nation for new gun purchases, behind CALIFORNIA. Let's pick up the pace Texans. @NRA."
One user wrote, "While there is an active shooter situation going on currently at the Galleria, remember what [Greg Abbott] said in regards to gun purchases when mass shootings were running rampant." Another tweeted, "An active shooter in Dallas Galleria Mall. Another reminder of what Gov Greg Abbott has said in the past. Remember this tweet."