Genuine Terror After Shootout With Lunatic Man In Killeen Mall

This Saturday past night, December 21, turned chaotic at the Killeen Mall when a driver crashed a truck into the shopping center. There were at least five people injured before the driver was fatally shot by law enforcement, according to KXAN News.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) claimed that the incident began as a traffic stop after a trooper pursued a black pickup truck flagged by a 911 caller as a possible drunk driver. The driver was John Darrel Schultz. He was 53 and from Kempner. Schultz led officers to the mall parking lot before crashing the truck into the building.

A witnessed that worked at JC Penny described the scene as the vehicle barreled through the mall during peak holiday shopping hours. “It’s just four days till Christmas, and the mall was packed,” said Daniel Bartlett. Bartlett said he heard gunshots, helped evacuate customers, and sheltered others in a back office before witnessing the destruction firsthand.

Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded, confronting Schultz inside the mall. A shootout ensued, ending in the suspect's death. DPS emphasized that misinformation about an “active shooter” spread rapidly online, adding to the panic.

The five injured victims were transported for medical care, but their conditions remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.

Reference: KXAN News, Dec. 21, 2024.