Who is Mauricio Garcia, the shooting suspect in Allen, Texas? What do we know?

(CNN Spanish) — Mauricio Garcia, 33, has been identified as the suspect in this weekend’s mass shooting at a shopping center in Allen, Texas, which left eight people dead and seven others injured, police sources said. Garcia, who authorities believe acted alone, was also shot and killed by a police officer.

Who is Mauricio Garcia?

Garcia received firearms training as a security guard

According to Texas Online Private Security, a Texas Department of Public Safety (TPS) database, Garcia underwent firearms training for his job.

Garcia was allowed to work as a security guard in Texas from April 2016 until April 2020, when his license expired, according to the database. His profile shows that he has worked for at least three security firms. None of those companies immediately responded to requests for comment.

According to the database, Garcia received Level II and Level III security training. The first involves conservation laws in Texas; The latter includes the firearms training and demonstration of firearms proficiency required of all designated security guards and private security agents in Texas, says Jonah Nathan, vice president of the Ranger Service. Not connected to Garcia’s employers.

According to the Texas DPS database, in 2018, Garcia also completed a separate firearms skills training course that requires 6 hours of continuing education.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety website and state codes, private security guards in Texas are subject to background checks and are disqualified if they have committed certain crimes, such as assault, robbery or sex crimes. They are disqualified if they have been dishonorably discharged from the United States military; Declared incompetent by court; or to register as a sex offender. It is not known why Garcia’s license expired.

He was carrying an AR-15 weapon.

In addition to the AR-15-style weapon found next to him, Garcia was carrying at least one other weapon when he was shot outside the mall, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN. Police also found several weapons in his car.

CNN spoke to neighbors who saw the FBI and police Saturday night at an address matching Garcia’s parents. Neighbors told CNN’s Ed Lavandera that they arrived an hour after the shooting and blocked the street for several hours.

According to the police source, Garcia lived in some type of transitional housing. The Dallas Morning News reported that the suspect was staying at a long-term care facility in Dallas.

A quiet and reserved man, according to neighbors

A neighbor of the suspect who opened fire Saturday at a mall in Allen, Texas, described the man as quiet and lonely.

Moises Carrion, a neighbor of Mauricio Garcia, told CNN’s Ed Lavandera that Garcia was reserved and didn’t talk much to his neighbors.

Carrion said Garcia would sometimes wear a hoodie and walk up and down the block.

“I know nothing happened on our block, but it gives you chills to know that the suspect lived a few houses away,” Carrion said, adding that Garcia showed no signs of being a suspect in a mass shooting. .

With reporting by Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Bob Ortega, Curt Devine, Ed Lavandera, Elizabeth Wolfe, Sharif Paget, and Sara Smart.