Allen Mall shooting: Moving forward months after mass shooting claims lives of shoppers

It has been more than nine months since a gunman entered the premises of the Allen Premium Outlets and initiated a deadly shooting spree, claiming the lives of eight innocent individuals.

On May 6, 2023, the assailant, armed with multiple weapons, halted his vehicle in the south parking lot and opened fire on shoppers at the expansive outdoor shopping complex. The victims included three children, including two sisters and a boy who tragically perished alongside his parents. Additionally, three adults lost their lives, including a mall security guard who bravely aided shoppers in seeking refuge.

The rampage instigated chaos, with hundreds of shoppers at the Allen Premium Outlets desperately seeking shelter in shops, storerooms, and closed corridors. The close-knit, multicultural suburb of Allen, with a population of 105,000, found itself grappling with the aftermath of yet another instance of senseless violence in a year marked by an alarming frequency of mass shootings.

This incident marked the ninth mass shooting in Texas over the past 14 years, prompting nationwide attention and vigils held in remembrance of the victims. While a semblance of normalcy eventually returned, the trauma endured by survivors persists.

NBC 5 recently interviewed Niqi Crump, one of the survivors, shedding light on the enduring mental and emotional anguish following the harrowing experience of living through a mass shooting.

For Crump, May 6th, 2023, marked a profound turning point. “I can’t say that I’m the same as I was before that event,” she shared. “I don’t think I’ll ever experience the same feelings without a sense of fear and sadness.”

Nearly nine months have passed since the tragic day when Crump found herself fleeing for her life. Recalling the ordeal, she recounted feeling acutely aware of her body, gripped by tension and shaking uncontrollably.

Returning to the scene of the shooting evoked poignant memories for Crump, who reflected on the significance of the mall in her life. “Many aspects of my childhood were intertwined here,” she reflected. “I even worked here before college, trying to earn money.”

As a survivor of the shooting, Crump has sought professional therapy and opted not to return to work at the outlets, prioritizing her emotional well-being. She underscored the urgency of addressing the pervasive issue of gun violence, emphasizing that such tragedies should never occur.

“It happened, but it should not have. Regardless of whose world it is, it needs to stop,” Crump asserted passionately.