A young security officer and an Indian engineer were among those killed in a mall shooting near Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.
Eight persons, including children, were killed and seven were injured in the attack.
The perpetrator, aged 33, was shot and slain by a nearby officer responding to an unrelated call.
The police are currently investigating whether or not the assailant was motivated by extreme right-wing ideology.
In the aftermath of the murder, information about the victims is still trickling out, but two of the deceased have been identified.
Here is what we currently know.
Christian LaCour, 20 years old
Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security officer, was among the victims of the attack.
Brianna Smith, his sister, told ABC News that he was on duty at the Allen, Texas mall when the incident occurred.
Ms. Smith told ABC that he was a very likable youngster. “I’m sad that he’s gone.”
Sandra Montgomery, Mr. LaCour’s grandmother, described him as a “beautiful soul” with “goals for his future” on Facebook.
“Please offer up prayers for my family,” she wrote. “They are very close, and I know this is almost unbearable.”
Aishwarya Thatikonda
Local news outlet WFAA has confirmed that Aishwarya Thatikonda, an Indian engineer who resided in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, was one of the other victims. It is unknown what her age was.
According to a family representative, Ms. Thatikonda and a companion were at the Allen Mall when the shooting occurred. Her companion was injured in the assault.
Her family currently intends to return her remains to India.
According to Ms. Thatikonda’s LinkedIn profile, she earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in India in 2018, followed by a master’s degree in construction management from Eastern Michigan University in the United States in 2020.
She has spent the previous two years working for a Dallas-based contracting firm.
