1 Year Later: Allen Outlets shooting victims remembered

ALLEN, Texas - It’s been one year since the deadly mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Eight people were killed and another seven were injured when a gunman opened fire on shoppers in the busy shopping center parking lot.

MORE: Allen, Texas Mall Shooting Coverage

An Allen police officer who was already at the mall killed the gunman at the scene.

Inside Allen’s Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Monday evening was a ceremony dedicated to the victims, survivors and first responders of the mass shooting. 

Allen Mayor Baine Brooks said May 6 is a date that lives heavily in his city. 

"It’s a day we lost eight precious lives," he said.

Some in attendance say healing has been a struggle. 

"This hit hard because Allen is such a beautiful city and a beautiful place," said resident Pam Wagoner. "The fear, the grief and anger we felt. 

There was a moment of silence citywide at 3:36 p.m.: the exact time the first gunshots rang out. 

FOX 4 saw a small crowd near the new memorial at the mall, from employees to security to people from the public. 

Eight wind chimes on the memorial represent the eight victims. 

Monday’s program featured Allen High School’s choir singing ‘Amazing Grace.’

And the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra performed a piece commissioned in remembrance of the eight victims followed by a moment of silence. 

Tears were seen in the audience as Mayor Brooks called the community to lean on one another. 

"Let’s continue to demonstrate the love and the strength of this precious community," he said. "Allen is stronger together."

Counselors were on hand both at the mall and at the memorial service. 

The Victims

Cindy, Kyu and James Cho

Cindy and Kyu Cho and their 3-year-old son, James Cho, were all together near the H&M store when the gunman opened fire. Their 6-year-old son, William, was also shot but survived. He is now with his extended family.

The family was visiting the Allen Premium Outlets to exchange clothes William had gotten for his birthday four days before the shooting.

Daniela and Sofia Mendoza

Two Wylie ISD students, 11-year-old Daniela Mendoza and 8-year-old Sofia Mendoza, were at the mall with their mom getting clothes for an upcoming family vacation when they were fatally shot. 

The girls' mother, Ilda Mendoza, was shot in the leg and shoulder, according to a family friend.

Aishwarya Thatikonda 

Aishwarya Thatikonda was an international student who had been living and working as an engineer in McKinney. She went to the mall with a friend, who also was shot but survived.

She was laid to rest in India where her family lives.

Christian LaCour

Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old from Farmersville, was working as a security guard at the mall when the gunman opened fire. 

He was fatally shot while helping other people get to safety.

Elio Cumana-Rivas

Elio Cumana-Rivas, a 32-year-old living in Dallas, was shot and killed while out shopping.

His brother said he had just moved to Texas from Venezuela about a year earlier.

Memorial Services

On Monday, the victims were honored with a citywide moment of science at 3:36 p.m. That’s the exact time the first gunshots rang out.

A free remembrance event is also planned for 6:30 p.m. at the Credit Union of Texas Events Center. 

Cox Elementary School

Cox Elementary School in Sachse held a remembrance event to honor the Mendoza sisters, who attended the school.

Crews broke ground on a new park to honor the sisters.

The park was designed by the girls' teachers.

Donations from the community made the park a reality.