Killer's suspected racist links examined

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·3 min read
14

Days after a deadly shooting at a Texas shopping mall, investigators were combing through social media to discern a motive for the attack. And the Biden administration wants airlines to pay stranded passengers.

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Killer's suspected racist links investigated

As names of some of the eight people killed in a shooting at a suburban Dallas mall began to emerge Monday, authorities worked to determine whether the gunman was motivated by white supremacist and neo-Nazi views. The shooter was killed by police responding to the assault Saturday in Allen, Texas, which left eight people dead and seven in the hospital. Here's what we know.

  • Authorities haven't released the names of the eight persons killed in the shooting, but some of them have been identified by relatives or other sources. They include two sisters who were attending elementary school at a nearby town, an engineer from India and a young security guard.

USA TODAY on Instagram: "Texas continued to mourn the lives of eight people killed in the 200th mass shooting in America this year. On Saturday, a gunman fired into a crowd at a suburban Dallas outlet mall, killing at least eight and injuring several others. On Monday, authorities sought to determine whether the gunman was motivated by white supremacist and neo-Nazi views. Federal agents have been reviewing social media accounts they believe were used by the gunman and posts that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, family, friends and an entire community continued to grieve. Visit the link in bio for more updates. 📸: Getty; AP"

Driver in crash that killed 8 charged with manslaughter

Police announced Monday that the driver in a deadly crash at a bus stop near a migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas, has been charged with multiple counts of manslaughter. Eight people were killed and at least 10 were injured when an SUV plowed into a crowd around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The 34-year-old driver was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said. Live updates.

Emergency personnel respond to a fatal collision in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Several migrants were killed after they were struck by a vehicle while waiting at a bus stop near Ozanam Center, a migrant and homeless shelter.
Emergency personnel respond to a fatal collision in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Several migrants were killed after they were struck by a vehicle while waiting at a bus stop near Ozanam Center, a migrant and homeless shelter.

  • Mass killings in the US are on a record pace: In a given year, the U.S. typically sees six mass shootings in a public place, and the most the country has ever witnessed was 10 in a year, according to Northeastern University professor James Alan Fox. There have been 22 mass killings – all shootings – in 2023, defined as four or more people killed, not including the perpetrator. Dig deeper: How many mass shootings in 2023?

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Biden wants airlines to pay stranded passengers

Stranded because of a canceled flight? President Joe Biden wants to make sure you're covered. Biden said Monday that his administration will write new regulations that will require airlines to compensate air travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control. The compensation would be in addition to ticket refunds when the airline is at fault for a flight being canceled or significantly delayed. Here's what to know.

Ukraine shoots down dozens of drones over Kyiv

As air raid alarms sounded in the pre-dawn hours across Kyiv, a Russian air assault on the city was swatted aside Monday when the Ukraine military shot down all 35 Iranian-made drones. But their fiery, shattered remnants injured residents and damaged vehicles, the Ukraine Air Force said. Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the drone attack the most severe assault on Ukraine's capital since the start of the war. Here's the latest.

Local residents stand next to a building that was damaged in the night, following Russian shelling in Komyshevakha, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Monday, May 8, 2023.
Local residents stand next to a building that was damaged in the night, following Russian shelling in Komyshevakha, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Monday, May 8, 2023.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Allen, Texas mass shooting, Biden airline rules, Ukraine: Monday's news