Man shot dead by police after driving into Texas mall, striking multiple people

Police shot and killed a man who struck multiple people when he drove into a Texas mall Saturday, authorities said.

The man plowed into the front of a JCPenney store at the Killeen Mall in Killeen, shattering the glass doors and continuing to drive his black pickup about 100 yards while “striking multiple people” and “actively running people over,” Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bryan Washko said at a news conference Saturday night.

The driver was identified Sunday as John Darrel Schultz, 53, of Kempner, Texas.

Police opened fire and killed Schultz. Washko said that there was no longer a threat to the community and that the Texas Rangers are investigating the police shooting.

Four people were taken to hospitals with injuries from minor to severe, Washko said. He added that another person hurt in the incident walked into a hospital with minor injuries.

No deaths have been reported besides Schultz’s.

Washko stressed that there was no active shooter at the mall, as had initially been reported and spread on social media. Killeen police also dispelled the rumor on Facebook earlier Saturday.

Police were initially pursuing the driver after they got a report at about 5 p.m. of a possibly intoxicated motorist on the highway, Washko said. The driver got off Interstate 14 and entered the mall parking lot before he drove into the store.

Video showed police amassing at the shopping center.

Police asked the public to avoid the area so first responders could have access and investigators could work.

Killeen is a city about 67 miles north of Austin. Killeen Mall says on its website that it has more than 90 retailers.