WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.680 We have an active shooter, we have an after shooting's go ahead of a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:11.599 quaire with a mass casualty Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that covers the 3 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:17.239 whys, the hows, and the aftermath of active shooter and mass casualty events. 4 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:26.039 They have an active shooter in a building. A checking calls as they 5 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:32.640 are big attack of a show. We got jus fires four fifteen as Brouge 6 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:49.320 ninety one, so i'd like, oh, I'm at a fire, active 7 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:53.439 shooter. It's of an active shooter, active shooter, active shooter in mass 8 00:00:53.479 --> 00:01:02.000 casualty incidents. Thank you for listening. You are listening to Active Shooter, 9 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:06.959 a podcast that may contain adult themes, explicit language, and graphic depictions of 10 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:11.400 violence. Portions of this show may be traumatic for those under eighteen. Listener 11 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:19.840 discretion is advised. Right now, North Texas is mourning the eight people shot 12 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.680 and killed at an Allen's shopping mall. We are beginning to learn about those 13 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:29.760 lives taken and tonight. Law enforcement sources have identified the shooter as a thirty 14 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:34.959 three year old man from Dallas. The shooting at the Allen Park Outlet mall 15 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:41.719 was a targeted, vicious shooting a directly impacted the fifteen innocent, unsuspecting people 16 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:46.840 who were shot. Seven survived, while the other eight died. The lives 17 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:51.879 of hundreds more were destroyed in the aftermath of such a hideous, unspeakable crime. 18 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:57.680 A family of four was reduced to a sole survivor, while another family 19 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.599 of four became a family of two. The shooting victim's ages ranged from a 20 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:08.400 tender three years old to sixty one. While the shooting was indeed a planned 21 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:13.919 attack, there wasn't a specific group of people sought out. No one was 22 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:19.080 left untouched, no age, sex, race, or religion was singled out. 23 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:24.759 Everyone was prey. Today's case is dedicated to the lives and memories of 24 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:31.080 the seven injured survivors and the eight shooting victims. Q Song Cho, Cindi 25 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:40.280 Cho, James Cho, Christian Liqueur, Daniella and Sophia Mendoza, Ashiwara Tatikonda 26 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:51.039 and Elio Kumana Rivaz Active Shooter. The podcast is a High five Holly production 27 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:58.360 and I'm your host j T. If you've listened to our prior episodes, 28 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.080 you know that the act of the Shooter podcast team has taken thee no notoriety 29 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:06.960 pledge and we will not be sharing the real name to the shooters that we 30 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:12.080 cover. We will be giving the shooters a pseudonym and refer to them by 31 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:15.599 that name throughout the episode. This will help in clearing up any confusion in 32 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:21.000 the story. While remaining true to our pledge and not naming the shooter by 33 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:39.520 their actual name, we will refer to today's shooter as Randall. Saturday May 34 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.960 sixth, twenty twenty three was a hot, sticky day. Temps were in 35 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.800 the nineties and many residents of Allen, Texas were seeking relief from the extreme 36 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:53.719 heat inside the many different stores that made up Allen Premium Outlets Mall. Because 37 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:58.000 it was a weekend, the mall was at its busiest. However, that 38 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:02.319 coupled with the extreme temperatures, meant the entire place was swarming with people at 39 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:08.120 every turn. The mall, which is owned by Simon Property Group, is 40 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:13.680 a large outdoor shopping center with over one hundred twenty name brand and designer stores 41 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:17.680 and sits at eight to two zero West Stacey Road, Allen, Texas. 42 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:26.360 Allen, Texas is located within Collin County and is populated with one hundred four 43 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.759 thousand, six hundred residents. The city and affluent suburb of the Dallas Fort 44 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:38.920 Worth Metroplex area sits approximately twenty five miles north of Dallas. At approximately three 45 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.800 thirty six pm, thirty three year old Randall drove a twenty fourteen gray Dodge 46 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:47.040 Charger towards the mall. He was dressed head to toe in black and wore 47 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:54.360 a black tactical vest which bore a patch that read RWDS. Also known as 48 00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:00.120 right wing death Squad, which is a phrase often used among white supremacists and 49 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:04.279 right wing extremists. Randall wasn't taking a Saturday cruise to the mall to wander 50 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:10.079 around intimidating others with his menacing look. He was carrying an AR fifteen style 51 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:15.680 rifle and numerous magazines loaded with ammunition, and he was planning to carry out 52 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:20.319 an attack and his mission was to murder as many shoppers as possible. Upon 53 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:25.040 pulling into the parking lot of the mall, Randall parked near the H and 54 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:30.279 M store, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing into a small crowd of 55 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:34.439 people standing just outside of the store. We got so far at the Alamo 56 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:43.720 start at the shoppers started running desperate to find shelter or safety somewhere, Yet 57 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:47.600 they weren't all fully certain where the shooting was coming from, making it nearly 58 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:53.319 impossible to know where to hide. Some people took cover behind parked cars, 59 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:57.920 while others laid in storage areas and back hallways in and around the mall. 60 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.879 I started praying. I was rocking on my knees and praying. They were 61 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:05.600 praying. Everybody was just kind of having their own moment, trying to reach 62 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:10.319 loved ones. I'm trying to text my family for what I thought was my 63 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:15.959 last moments, to be honest. Thirty seven year old Q Song Chow and 64 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:19.120 his thirty five year old wife, Cindy Cho were among those outside of the 65 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:23.959 mall who were shot and killed. The couple was at the mall with a 66 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:29.079 three year old James, who survived the shooting. James was held briefly in 67 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.879 the ICU before being released as an orphan. Q and Cindy were described as 68 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:40.800 quote family oriented pillars in their community, and Cindy specifically was said to be 69 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:46.439 quote the sweetest, most caring and positive person. The little family regularly attended 70 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:50.040 a Bible study and belonged to a Fellowship group. At the New Song Church 71 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:57.000 just outside of Dallas. Q was an immigration attorney who chose that particular field 72 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:00.639 after his own experience as an immigrant in the early nineties. Cindy was a 73 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:05.920 dentist who went by the professional name of Cindy Kang at her practice. Their 74 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:11.600 sweet boy, James loved elephants and had a shining smile. He was the 75 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:16.040 absolute light of his parents' lives. James's daycare teacher said the youngster was a 76 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:20.160 brilliant child who could read and write his own name at merely three years of 77 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:26.439 age. A GoFundMe was established for James, and it raised over one point 78 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:31.240 eight million dollars. Meanwhile, a mother and daughter were shopping inside of a 79 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:36.079 nearby Haines Brand's store when they saw a man exiting his vehicle carrying a large 80 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:41.160 weapon. The manager of the store also saw the man and hurriedly rushed all 81 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:46.160 customers into the back room after locking the front door to the store. A 82 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.720 minute after the shooting began, a police officer who was at the mall on 83 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:54.560 an unrelated call heard gunshots and called for backup, running towards the sounds of 84 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:59.319 the rapid gunfire. By three forty p m Multiple nine one one. Calls 85 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:03.600 were streaming in witness Where are they at right now? Do you have eyes 86 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:07.680 on the shooter? Perry Ellis who was in front of Perry Alice walking on 87 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.439 Harry and over lash Alan one A one Are you calling about the shooting? 88 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:18.360 Yes, we got a victim. We got a victim there and Boutiste six. 89 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:22.399 It's the fleet start. We have health on the way. We do 90 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:28.120 have medics in the area right now. Shooting victim inside Francesco's. So where 91 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.480 this story. Okay, You're gonna stay right where you're at until you hear 92 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:37.519 the police officers say you can come out. Okay, Okay, just stay 93 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:41.200 right where you are and if anything else happened there, anyone's hurt, you 94 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.480 call us back, but they are already clearing out stores. They'll be with 95 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.559 you as fast as they can. Within three to four minutes, fifteen people 96 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:54.039 were shot, including twenty year old security guard Christian Isaiah LeCour Christian was born 97 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.360 on January fourteenth, two thousand and three, in Farmersville, Texas. He 98 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:03.080 graduated from Farmersville High School before going on to become a security officer for Allied 99 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:09.720 Security. Christian was the person we all need in life. He was quick 100 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:13.399 to sing a tune make you laugh, and he listened with an open heart 101 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:18.360 and always knew the right advice to offer. Christian never cared what others thought 102 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:22.919 of him, and people said his hugs could make almost anything better. Friends 103 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.759 described him as a gentle giant who quote always had a song in his heart. 104 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:31.240 His most treasured time was spent lounging in his bean bag, wearing a 105 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:37.759 bathrobe and his beloved cat slippers, and playing video games. Christian is survived 106 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.399 by his parents, three sisters, and brother. He also leaves behind a 107 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:46.000 loving girlfriend and two feline and fur babies. All of the shooting victims were 108 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:50.039 outside of the mall, and by all accounts, Randal never even made it 109 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:54.559 inside of the mall. A witness later reported seeing a man fleeing the scene, 110 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:58.519 clutching onto his neck, which was stained bright red from the flow of 111 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:03.759 bloods surging out. Yet another witness managed to get her daughter and herself into 112 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:09.000 her car, believing they were no longer in danger, until she felt her 113 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:13.399 vehicle being struck not once, but twice by bullets from the shooter. Mercifully 114 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:18.960 they were unharmed. The same couldn't be said for sisters, eleven year old 115 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:22.559 Daniella and eight year old Sophia Mendoza. The young sisters were at the mall 116 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:28.440 shopping with their mother, Ilda, who was also shot yet survived for physical 117 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.799 injuries after a stint in the ICU. Both Daniella and Sophia attended Sherry Cox 118 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:39.600 Elementary School in Wiley, isd and the school's principal said that both girls were 119 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:45.000 quote rays of sunshine and most everyone adored them. A massive memorial was made 120 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:48.480 up of flowers, balloons, and toys and was erected in front of the 121 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:54.039 school, and yellow ribbons were tied around trees while staff and students or yellow, 122 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:58.720 both girls favorite color, to assist the students and staff in processing their 123 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:03.759 green. The Canine Comfort Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities visited the students in the 124 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:09.240 days following the shooting. The sisters were both cheerleaders and though they loved school, 125 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:13.960 each was looking forward to the summer break that was only two weeks away. 126 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:18.279 Sophia was an honorable student who was learning about organisms, fractions, and 127 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:22.159 weather patterns. Besides her general studies, she was a lover of the drama 128 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:28.240 department and had been diligently studying her lines as the lead in the upcoming play 129 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:33.279 Pirate Jane. At school. The day before the shooting, Sophia created a 130 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.840 scrap book wherein she called herself Sassy and described her dreams for the future, 131 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:43.440 a future she deserved to fulfill. Daniello was close to graduating from the fourth 132 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:48.399 grade, and at a recent awards ceremony, the young girl was named most 133 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:52.200 likely to become a teacher. The sweet young lady wore black rimmed glasses and 134 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.879 little bows in her hair, conjuring a heartbreaking image of an innocent little girl 135 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.000 who didn't deserve to die in such a brutal manner. Over two hundred and 136 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:20.000 forty thousand dollars was raised through a GoFundMe for the family of sisters. Randa 137 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:22.960 was reported to have been shooting at random, as though he had no specific 138 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.279 target. No he didn't particularly care about whom he shot. He simply wanted 139 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:33.440 to kill. Another of the shooting victims was twenty six year old Aishwara Tatikonda, 140 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.519 who was shopping with a friend when she was shot and killed. Some 141 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.799 sources indicate her age to be twenty seven, and it is unclear which is 142 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:48.080 accurate. Aihawara was born and raised in Hyderabad, India, and came to 143 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:52.759 the United States to attend Eastern Michigan University, where she graduated in December of 144 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:58.720 twenty twenty with a Masters of Science in Construction Management. She was a project 145 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:03.320 manager for Perfect General Contractors LLC and Frisco Texas and was said to have an 146 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:09.840 incredibly bright future as a civil engineer and indeed, the owner of Perfect General 147 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:15.120 intended to name Aishawara as CEO in the coming months, saying that she was 148 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:20.000 dedicated to growing the company. Becoming CEO is a hard earned achievement that she 149 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:24.200 will never get to realize. During her college years at e MU, she 150 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.080 became a proud member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and was known to 151 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:33.919 be extremely meticulous and thorough. Aihawara's remains were flown to Hideerabad on May tenth 152 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.519 so a proper funeral could be held among her family and friends in India. 153 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:43.639 From there, her remains were taken to the Nagol Cremation Grounds where her last 154 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.960 rites were performed. Her father, a district court judge in India, along 155 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.399 with the rest of her family and loved ones deeply mourn her passing. The 156 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:58.080 last of the shooting victims was thirty two year old Elio Kumana Rivas. Elio 157 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.159 was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and had only lived in the United States 158 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.720 for a few months before his violent death. His brother reports that Elio fled 159 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:11.240 from the savagery of their home country, arriving in the US in October of 160 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:16.759 twenty twenty two hours before the shooting. His older brother, who also decamped 161 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.399 Venezuela, was leaving the immigration office when he received a phone call from a 162 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:24.840 mutual friend who told him that Elio was at the mall where a mass shooting 163 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:31.799 happened. He was devastated. They escaped from a country filled with chaos and 164 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.960 brutishness, only for a life to be lost in such a senseless attack. 165 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:43.519 Elio was affable and courteous to others and worked diligently to send money home to 166 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.679 support his family in Venezuela. He was at the Outlet mall that day accompanying 167 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:54.039 a friend who was searching for a birthday present for their daughter. A memorial 168 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.279 for Elio was held at Pylar Funeral Home in Garland, Texas. Stephen Spain 169 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:03.600 Hower and O Army veteran and retired police officer was contacted by his son, 170 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:07.440 who was an employee at H and M. His son told him about the 171 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:11.000 shooting, and by instinct, Stephen rushed to the mall seeking a way to 172 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:16.200 assist. When he arrived, he came upon several injured shoppers, and he 173 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.519 attempted to perform CPR in three separate victims, but he wasn't able to save 174 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:24.279 them. However, Stephen wasn't deterred, and he continued looking for ways to 175 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:28.879 help. He found a young boy who was covered in blood after seeking shelter 176 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.720 beneath his deceased mother, and Stephen managed to coax the boy to come with 177 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:41.360 him to safety. The attack was brief but deadly. By three forty p 178 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:45.759 m. The Allen Police Department confirmed that the responding officer, who was already 179 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:50.320 at the mall, was able to quote stop the threat and neutralize the shooter. 180 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:54.799 The officer made contact with Randall just outside of the Fatburger restaurant and they 181 00:15:54.840 --> 00:16:00.679 exchanged gunfire before the officer shot and killed Randall at four twenty two p m. 182 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:07.879 First responders began the laborious process of evacuating shoppers from within the stores they 183 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.960 located and aided many living survivors and witnesses, though sadly they came across an 184 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.919 astounding amount of blood and death. The scene was somber and devastating. Several 185 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:25.919 witnesses sheltered for up to two hours after the shooting patiently, and they were 186 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:29.879 desperately waiting for police to locate them and assure them that it was all over. 187 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.039 Groups of people were escorted from the stores and mall, and an officer 188 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:37.519 was overheard telling the group that if any of them had children, they should 189 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:41.120 cover their eyes. The site was one you could never unsee, and no 190 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:47.600 one needed that added trauma. People quietly walked single file out of the mall 191 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:52.919 and into a world that no longer made sense. Victims were rushed to various 192 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:59.039 local hospitals, including Medical City Plano, Medical City McKinney, and Medical City 193 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:03.559 Children's Hospital. Bomb sniffing dogs were taken around the perimeter of the mall and 194 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:07.200 parking lots, searching for any traps that the shooter may have set in his 195 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:11.559 wake. Three firearms were located on Randall's person, and an additional five guns 196 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.559 were found in his car. Though only one was actually used in the shooting. 197 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:21.039 It was also discovered that Randall was staying at an extended stay hotel in 198 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:26.839 Northwest Dallas, a hotel that was often described as transient lodging. Search warrants 199 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.279 were obtained and executed on the hotel, specifically Randall's room, and a private 200 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:36.160 residence in Northeast Dallas. The house in Northeast Dallas was located on a sleepy 201 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:41.480 suburban street and belonged to Randall's parents. The FBI was at the house within 202 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.240 an hour of the shooting, and they had the entire street blocked off for 203 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:51.160 hours. Multiple items of interest were removed, including three boxes of ammunition with 204 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:55.599 miscellaneous loose rounds, pictures, six hand written notes, a knife and a 205 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.519 holster, a rifle, handguard, handcuffs, a gun, holster, two 206 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:03.000 black house that's one with the saying killing it and the other with security printed 207 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:10.359 on it, and several other unidentified items. Neighbors say the family lived there 208 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:14.839 for many years and they were all well liked. Several say that Randall appeared 209 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:18.440 disconnected and aloof, though not threatening in any manner, he just seemed to 210 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:26.200 keep to himself. Thirty three year old Randall was born and raised in northeast 211 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.240 Dallas. He attended and graduated from Brian Adams High School in Cassaview, Texas, 212 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:34.400 a suburb of Dallas. After he graduated, Randall enlisted in the United 213 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:38.359 States Army in June of two thousand and eight, but he never completed basic 214 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:44.400 training. After about three months, he was terminated due to mental health concerns. 215 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:48.960 But, and this is critically important, his termination did not appear in 216 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.839 the National Instant Criminal background check system. Due to the discharge being an administrative 217 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:59.359 separation and not a disciplinary discharge, there was nothing barring this young man from 218 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.880 obtaining way weapons of any kind. At some point after his discharge from the 219 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:07.200 Army, Randall worked for an aluminum supply company, though it doesn't appear that 220 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:12.119 that job lasted long. He eventually secured a job as a security guard, 221 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:17.920 working for at least three different companies over the years. The security job offered 222 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:22.680 firearms training along with Level two and Level three security training, which is required 223 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.400 for all personal protection and commissioned security officers in Texas. The training includes the 224 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:34.480 aforementioned firearms training as well as the demonstration of firearm proficiency. In other words, 225 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:41.480 despite the lack of military instruction, Randall was well trained and extremely skilled 226 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:57.920 with a weapon. In the weeks prior to the shooting, Randall was living 227 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:03.119 in the motel and he spent free time perusing social media sites where he possessed 228 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:07.119 membership, including a Russian platform where he posted neo Nazi and white supremacist content. 229 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:14.279 Randall often expressed distaste for women, racial minorities, and Jews, and 230 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:18.960 this content was posted as recently as days before the shooting. He also displayed 231 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:25.039 photos of himself bearing Nazi tattoos such as a swastika and the SS Lightning Bolt 232 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:30.599 logo. He used anti Asian and anti Arab slurs, and shared quotes from 233 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:36.319 far right sources. As if that content wasn't disturbing enough, Randall celebrated other 234 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:40.680 mass shooters, like the twenty twenty three Nashville school shooter and the twenty fourteen 235 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:45.319 Ila Vista murders. Anyone with an obsessive interest in such topics, particularly those 236 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:52.680 who eulogized mass shooters, should immediately raise serious red flags. Three weeks before 237 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:56.680 the shooting, Randall posted pictures of the outlet mall's entrance, as well as 238 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:00.359 screenshots of a page that displayed the mall's peak hours. He discussed his dreams 239 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:06.240 about race wars and society's demise, and in one post, Randal described himself 240 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:10.799 as an incel, which we've covered in greater detail in other episodes. The 241 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:15.079 Oxford Dictionary describes an inceel as a member of an online community of young men 242 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:21.119 who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are 243 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:26.920 hostile towards women and men who are sexually active. His online account showed zero 244 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.480 friends and no comments from others, and as such it is believed that the 245 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:37.720 account was used as an online diary of sorts. The platform he chose to 246 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.720 express these disgusting views on has little to no content moderation, making it a 247 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:48.279 popular choice among those who choose to express extreme opinions. Not long before the 248 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:52.759 shooting, Randal created and posted a note which was comprised of over five hundred 249 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:57.000 words and believed to be a possible suicide note. The letter detailed fantasies and 250 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:03.119 included pop culture references as well as proclamations of self aggrandizement. The note was 251 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:08.160 long and rambling, and often quoted phrases from the show South Park In several 252 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:11.799 other movies or shows, along with many of his own, including quote, 253 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:15.200 even if I did go to a psychologist, They're not going to be able 254 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:22.279 to fix whatever's wrong with me. Besides that shit's expensive. Another post made 255 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:26.400 by Randall expressed indignation towards family members who quote mocked any attempt I made to 256 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:33.960 be masculine and told me I was disturbed he made concerning references to the Noble 257 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.640 War, which is a phrase that white supremacists use to describe their presumption of 258 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:42.400 a race war. Not one of Randall's posts were commented upon, nor were 259 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:48.440 any liked or shared by other members. All of the weapons that Randall possessed 260 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.640 were legally purchased, though over a period of time and not all at once, 261 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.599 which may have raised suspicion Randall's mother and stepfather, who owned the home. 262 00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:03.000 The police searched, o paraded, with authorities offering any insight they could. 263 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:07.000 The precise motive is unknown. He seemed to hate anyone who didn't look 264 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:14.559 or act just like him. Why Randall selected the outlet mall, the specific 265 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:22.319 date or time will likely never be known. The president ordered flags to be 266 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:27.119 lowered to half staff and remained there through the following Thursday in honor and recognition 267 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:32.119 of the victims. Days after the shooting, on May eighth and ninth, 268 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:37.200 mall patrons were permitted with a mall security escort to go and retrieve their cars 269 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:41.440 that sat in the otherwise vacant parking lot. The mall reopened on May thirty 270 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:45.599 first, twenty twenty three, although each individual store was reopened at the discretion 271 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:51.839 of their respective owners. The police officer who shot and killed the shooter was 272 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:56.720 officially cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury decision on June twenty sixth, 273 00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:00.359 twenty twenty three. The jury felt that the state law justified the use of 274 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:06.359 force. We will never know how many lives were saved or how much more 275 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:11.960 devastating the shooting would have been if not for this immediate intervention. You see, 276 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:15.640 we all have the unique ability to help prevent such a catastrophic event from 277 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:21.240 happening if we keep our eyes and ears open and never hesitate to report when 278 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:26.119 something or someone just doesn't seem right. With the delicate balance of mental health 279 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:32.799 reform, education, active shooter training, and common sense gun laws, we 280 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.400 may one day realize the dream, the dream that there will be no more 281 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:42.279 active shootings. We pray that love will prevail over hate. In the meantime, 282 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:47.079 we urge our listeners to stay aware of your surroundings and keep in touch 283 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:52.440 with your loved ones. If you see something, say something, you never 284 00:24:52.519 --> 00:25:03.839 know how many lives you'll be saving. Thank you for listening to today's episode 285 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:08.680 of Active Shooter the Podcast. Remember, if you see something, say something, 286 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:14.440 there's no telling how many lives you may be saving. A big thank 287 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:18.319 you to Darren Curtis, who composed some of the songs on our show. 288 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:26.519 You can find him online at www dot Darrencurtis music dot com. Make sure 289 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.440 to check us out on social media. You can find us on Facebook at 290 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:37.359 Active Shooter the Podcast and on Twitter at podcast Active. Thank you and be safe.