The gunman who killed eight people at a Texas outlet mall was previously discharged from the Army over mental health concerns, but not before he was given firearms training.
We cannot help but wonder why the mental health evaluation did not disqualify the Army from putting a weapon in this man's hands and teaching him how to use it.
It is just another breakdown of the system that continues to lead to mass shootings in this country.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, was shot dead by a police officer on Saturday after a rampage that included an AR-15-style rifle outside of stores in Allen, Texas.
Interesting 🤔
Texas mall shooter Mauricio Garcia was tossed from Army over ‘mental health concerns’ https://t.co/00Tnd9yeIe via @nypost— Fed Up With Corruption (@FedCorruption) May 8, 2023
"It was not immediately clear what those concerns entailed, the role Garcia served in before he was dismissed or when he was tossed out," the New York Post reported.
"In addition to his Army training, Garcia had undergone several firearms proficiency courses in 2015 and 2018 as part of his security guard work, according to the Texas Online Private Security database," it added.
The suspect in the deadly shooting at a Texas outlet mall was discharged from the U.S. Army in 2008. https://t.co/9C6zb0dpDv
— Navy Times (@NavyTimes) May 9, 2023
"News of Garcia's ouster from the Army sparked questions about whether his discharge should've been flagged in a background check while purchasing firearms," the Navy Times reported.
"But Garcia was dismissed with an 'uncharacterized' discharge for a mental health condition, an Army official told the Military Times, which is an entry-level discharge that signifies neither honorable nor poor service. Garcia entered the Army in June 2008 but was removed from infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, after three months, the Army official said, speaking anonymously to describe personnel records," it added.
In addition to his Army background, Garcia wore a patch during the shooting that read RWDS which stands for Right Wing Death Squad. The phrase is used among right-wing extremists.
Government leaders in Texas are being pushed to act when it comes to gun control following the latest shooting.
Gov. Greg Abbott noted that even though people want a quick solution it is important to address the underlying mental health issues in the case as part of any response.
The latest details in the tragic shooting reveal a trail of concerns related to the shooter that investigators hope will help to stop future massacres from occurring.
