Authorities and family members have released the names of the eight victims that were killed by a gunman at an outlet mall on Saturday in Allen, Texas.
The tragedy was the second-deadliest mass shooting in the United States so far this year. The authorities identified the shooter as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia from Dallas. The investigation into the motives of the attack is ongoing.
TEXAS MALL SHOOTING: POLICE KILL SUSPECT AFTER GUNMAN LEAVES 'MULTIPLE' DEAD
Seven other people were also injured in the shooting. The Department of Public Safety released the names of the victims who died this week, with the age range of the victims ranging from three to 37. The Cho family, Kyu, 37, Cindy, 35, and their 3-year-old son James; Mendoza sisters, 11-year-old Daniela and 8-year-old Sofia; Christian LaCour, 20; Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27; and Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.
Here is what has been learned about the victims so far:
Kyu, Cindy, and James Cho
A mother and father were killed along with their 3-year-old son in the shooting, leaving their 6-year-old boy William Cho, who was also shot, the only survivor of their family.
Kyu Cho graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and attended law school before returning to his home state of Texas to work as an immigration lawyer. His wife, Cindy Cho, was a dentist at Thrive Dental and Orthodontics who attended the University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. Their son, James, has been described by his daycare teacher, Trinity Whitley, as a brilliant child who loved elephants, “I've never actually met a 3-year-old that was that smart. He could read, and he was writing his own name," she told ABC News.
The family took a trip to the mall to exchange a birthday present for their older son, who turned six recently.
Sofia and Daniela Mendoza
Sofia Mendoza, a second grader, and her sister Daniela Mendoza, a fourth grader, were among those killed Saturday. The two sisters were at the mall with their mother, Ilda, who is currently in critical condition from the shooting, according to Wylie Independent School District Superintendent David Vinson.
"Daniela and Sofia were the kindest, most thoughtful students with smiles that could light up any room," Krista Wilson, their school principal, said in a statement. "Our hearts are broken, and words cannot express how deeply they will be missed."
Aishwarya Thatikonda
Aishwarya Thatikonda was shot and killed at the outdoor mall, where she was with a friend who was among those injured. Thatikonda came to the U.S. five years ago to become an engineer.
“I pray to God to give [her family] enough strength to handle the situation,” Ashok Kolla, a volunteer for the Telugu Association of North America, said to the Dallas Morning News.
Thatikonda’s family is located in Hyderabad, a city in the Indian state of Telangana, according to the Indian Express.
Christian LaCour
Christian LaCour was an on-duty security guard at the Allen mall, and was confirmed to be killed in the shooting by his sister Brianna Smith to ABC News. LaCour, from Farmersville, Texas, has been described by Allen Chief of Police Brian Harvey as a hero.
“We must acknowledge the bravery of allied security guard Christian LaCour, who evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others,” Harvey said during a news conference Tuesday.
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Elio Cumana-Rivas
Elio Cumana-Rivas was a native of Venezuela who came to the U.S. "in search of the American dream," according to his older brother, Gregory Smith Cumana, per ABC News. Cumana-Rivas was the fifth of six brothers and was shopping with friends on the day of the mass shooting.