AUSTIN (KXAN) — A driver was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after driving a truck into the Killeen Mall Saturday night, injuring at least five people, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Around 6 p.m. Saturday, the Killeen Police Department said on Facebook that the mall and surrounding area were “secure.” It also said “There is no active shooter” at the mall and asked that the public stay away from the area.
A large police presence at Killeen Mall on Dec. 21, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)
During a 7:15 p.m. press conference, a DPS public information officer told media that the incident began as a chase after a DPS trooper attempted to pull over a black pickup truck. The PIO said that the trooper was in the area after a 9-1-1 caller reported a possible intoxicated driver.
The pickup’s driver turned the vehicle into the mall’s parking lot and then drove it into the mall. At least five people were injured by the vehicle. DPS said it did not have information about the condition of those victims.
DPS troopers and KPD officers followed the vehicle into the mall on foot. Inside, they linked up with multiple off-duty officers from three other local law enforcement agencies.
A large police presence at Killeen Mall on Dec. 21, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)
A “shootout” with law enforcement occurred and the suspect was killed, according to the DPS PIO. The Texas Rangers will investigate the shooting.
The DPS PIO noted that online misinformation was spread rapidly immediately after the incident. Several such posts were seen by KXAN on social media websites Facebook and X, making claims of an active shooter.
Daniel Bartlett was at work at JC Penney when the incident happened. He said he was in a backroom of the store when he heard gunshots and ran into the store to help people get out, not knowing what happened.
“It’s, it’s only what it what, four days till Christmas. And so there’s a lot of shoppers, and, you know, there’s a lot of people that are running,” Bartlett said. “There’s only two entrances to get out, and so people are running out the salon entrance, and I go, and I hold the door open to help people out because people are panicking.”
“I didn’t know someone drove through our store. All I knew is that there was gunshots.”
Bartlett said he also helped people get into a safe area within the store office before returning to the shopping floor, and that’s when he saw the destruction.
“So I get out there and I’m looking for co-workers, and that’s when I see the destruction. It is clean through.”
Bartlett said he’d never seen anything like it.
“I don’t know. I really don’t. It’s just you never expect anything like this to happen, and the best you can do is stay calm.”
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