The extremist beliefs were shared on a social media page that appeared to belong to the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall, with tirades against Jews, women and racial minorities posted on the account since September.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, maintained a profile on the Russian social media platform OK.RU., which included posts referencing extremist online forums such as 4chan and content from white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes, an anti-Semite. white nationalist provocative
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In the weeks leading up to the attack, Garcia posted more than 2 dozen photos of the Allen Premium Outlets mall, where the mass shooting occurred Saturday afternoon, and the surrounding areas, including several screenshots of Google location data. , apparently monitoring the mall at its busiest times.
Many of Garcia’s posts referenced his mental health. In his final post, he lamented what his family might say about him and wrote that no psychologist could have cured him. He wrote that he had expressed similar thoughts to his commanding officer.
Garcia also posted a number of links to other sites, including one to a YouTube account with a video posted on the day of the shooting. In the video, Garcia removes a Scream mask, saying, «Not exactly what you expected, huh?»
He also posted photos of a bulletproof vest adorned with patches, including one bearing the acronym «Right Wing Death Squad,» a popular meme among far-right extremist groups. Another post included a series of shirtless photos with visible white power tattoos, including SS Lightning and a swastika.
Garcia was armed with multiple weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, when he opened fire at a crowded outdoor mall in suburban Allen, authorities said.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the motive for the mass shooting, but a senior law enforcement source said Garcia’s social media site is part of the investigation.
Officials stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that the preliminary review found that the gunman’s social media posts were not shared by other users.
An official said authorities believe the shooter acted alone, but investigators continued to interview family and friends.
García joined the Army in June 2008, but was expelled after three months due to a physical or mental condition. He did not complete basic training, was deployed or received any awards, said Heather Hagan, a US Army Public Affairs spokeswoman.
«We did not provide a characterization of any soldier’s discharge,» Hagan added.
Authorities searched a home in a wooded Dallas neighborhood associated with the shooter and his family. People could be seen coming and going from the residence, but those who arrived at the gate on Monday refused to comment.
More on the Texas mall shooting
The shooting in Allen came just a week after a man fatally shot five people in Cleveland, Texas, north of Houston, after a neighbor told him to stop firing his gun while a baby was sleeping.
There have also been seven mass shootings in Texas since the Uvalde elementary school massacre a year ago, which killed 21 people, according to a data base Maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in association with Northeastern University. This year has seen an average of about one mass murder a week, youAP reported.
Texas Senate Democrats on Monday called on the GOP-led Legislature to pass new gun control laws, including age restrictions on gun ownership and closing loopholes at gun shows.
Allen, about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas and with a population of about 105,000, sits among the diverse suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The community is also connected to another of the recent mass shootings in Texas. Patrick Crusius lived there in 2019 before posting a racist tirade online warning of a «Hispanic invasion» and drove to El Paso, where he opened fire at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded guilty to felony charges. hate feds and guns. charges in February.
Deon J. hampton and The Associated Press contributed.