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DALLAS (AP) — The folks killed by a gunman at a mall close to Dallas over the weekend embrace two elementary-age sisters, a pair and their little one, 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 numerous suburbs.
Cox Elementary College college students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, grades 4 and two, had been amongst these slain Saturday at Allen Premium Shops, based on officers within the Wylie Impartial College District. They had been remembered as “the kindest, most considerate college students with smiles that might gentle up any room,” Principal Krista Wilson mentioned in a letter to oldsters.
Additionally killed on the outside purchasing heart had been three members of a Korean American household: a pair and one among their sons. One other son was wounded and was nonetheless hospitalized, mentioned Myoung-Joon Kim, head of mission on the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Dallas. The dad and mom had 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, mentioned she was devastated to study the day after operating for her life when photographs rang out that one of many lifeless 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 needed in after hours. He got here and requested the person to depart, after which provided a safety escort to her and two teenage workers.
“He needed us to really feel secure,” Gaither mentioned.
“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 Excellent Basic Contractors.
She was “at all times ready to provide her highest,” firm founder Srinivas Chaluvadi mentioned through electronic mail.
He mentioned her dad and mom dwell in Hyderabad, India, the place her father is a decide.
“She got here to the US with a dream to make a profession, construct a household, personal a house and dwell eternally in Dallas,” Chaluvadi mentioned.
Chaluvadi mentioned Thatikonda would have turned 27 subsequent week and she or he had turn out to be like like household: “She attended birthday events at my residence, we celebrated festivals collectively and we had household dinners.”
Ashok Kolla, treasurer of the Telugu Affiliation of North America, instructed The Dallas Morning Information that he didn’t know Thatikonda however the affiliation typically helps households and he’s working to ship her physique again residence.
DPS has recognized the eighth sufferer as Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.
Authorities are nonetheless attempting 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 trying into whether or not Garcia expressed an curiosity in white supremacist ideology, a regulation enforcement official instructed The Related Press. The official cautioned that the investigation is in its early levels.
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, mentioned 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.
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