Eight people died and numerous others were injured in the tragedy at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas. As the ashes from the weekend incident settle, more information about the victims comes to light.
Learn more about the eight victims of this terrible act of violence by reading on.
The Cho family visited Allen Premium Outlets to exchange some clothing that their 6-year-old son William had received four days before his birthday. The family had just started walking toward the HandM store when the shooter started shooting. The family of four consisted of parents Cindy and Kyu Cho, sons William, 6, and James, 3. Only William, who is still in the ICU, managed to escape the attack.
They were two male students at Prestonwood Christian Academy. Dr. Jack Graham, the senior pastor of the church, remarked, “What a wonderful family. While the other three children are in heaven, one is left behind”.
Wylie ISD has also released the names of the two girls who perished in the incident. Daniela Mendoza, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, went to Sachse’s Cox Elementary.
The principal of Cox Elementary, Krista Wilson, referred to the two children as “rays of sunshine”.
Wilson thought that Daniela and Sofia were the most considerate and kind students, with smiles that could light up any room. Ilda Mendoza, the mother of the girl, was also shot but is currently receiving treatment.
Young Indian woman Aishwarya Thatikonda was the other victim. The awful news was confirmed by Ashok Kolla, a family representative. Kolla claimed he spent Sunday looking for Thatikonda, who had vanished, and her roommates had expressed concern over it. She had also turned off her phone.
Kolla tried the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office after asking around and checking with friends, the police, and hospitals but was unable to find Thatikonda. She and her friend had visited Allen Premium Outlets. Despite being shot as well, her friend managed to flee the attack.
Kolla said, “The bad news isn’t what we want to hear, but it is what it is. He tries to bring her body back to India so that her family can say their final goodbyes and complete the funeral rites”.
Kolla moved here in search of a better dream, she said, even though her family is still hundreds of miles away. Many of our international students consider studying in the US to be a dream come true because they are confident in their futures.
It’s currently making headlines, he claimed. It is painful. Just a matter of counting down the days until she arrives, right?
Christian LaCour, 20, also passed away as a result of the shooting. The young man was shot and killed while performing his job as a facility guard. His mother provided the media with official confirmation of his passing.
Elio Cumana-Rivas, a 32-year-old resident of Dallas, was the incident’s last casualty.
Numerous people were killed and hurt in the terrible shooting. Everyone impacted by this tragic event is in our thoughts and prayers.
