The body camera footage of an officer who responded to the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas, has been released.
The shooting occurred on May 6 and left nine people dead, including four members of the AAPI community. The shooter was also among the people that died.
According to NBC Dallas Fort Worth, the camera was worn by an Allen police officer who was responding to an unrelated call at the Allen Premium Outlets. The officer was talking to a woman and her two children in the parking lot when he heard gunfire.
“Shots fired. Shots fired. We got people running,” the officer could be heard saying in the footage, CBS News reports.
The officer then grabs his gun, tells people to “Get Moving!” and follows the sound of the gunfire. The video also shows the officer at one point passing the suspect’s car.
“I’m on foot, I need everybody I got!” he says, according to CBS News.
According to NBC Dallas Fort Worth, the officer reaches an H&M about one minute and 40 seconds after the shooting began where he encounters the first victims. About three minutes after the shooting begins he exchanges fire with the gunman for the first time.
Five minutes after the shooting began, police officers confirm that they have taken down the gunman.
“This video shows how quickly a routine interaction with the public turned into a life-and-death situation,” Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey shared in a news release, according to CBS News. “The officer recognized the danger, ran toward the gunfire and neutralized the threat – and for his actions, the Allen community is forever grateful.”
On Monday, June 26 a grand jury heard the use of force case put in place to evaluate the actions of the police officer who killed the shooter. The grand jury found that the use of force by police was justified by Texas law, CNN reports. The officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
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No question the officer was a hero. He prevented a massacre. It could have been worse if he was not there.