Police Fatally Shoot Driver After Mall Rampage in Central Texas

A shocking incident unfolded in Killeen, Texas, on Saturday afternoon when a man drove his pickup truck through a JCPenney store and into a bustling mall, injuring five people before police fatally shot him.

Authorities identified the driver as 53-year-old John Darrel Schultz of Kempner. According to Sgt. Bryan Washko of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Schultz drove erratically, crashing into the department store and continuing into the mall, hitting multiple individuals.

Emergency medical teams transported four victims to nearby hospitals, while a fifth person sought treatment independently. The injured, ranging in age from 6 to 75, sustained varying degrees of injuries, with their current conditions still unknown.

The incident began around 5 p.m. on Interstate 14 near Belton, about 20 miles from Killeen, when authorities received reports of a black pickup driving erratically. Killeen Police Department’s Ofelia Miramontez reported that Schultz exited the highway and entered the Killeen Mall parking lot before launching his devastating rampage.

After the truck came to a halt inside the mall, officers confronted Schultz, resulting in a fatal police shooting. The event left the community reeling as officials continued to investigate the motive behind the chaotic scene.

The Killeen mall incident serves as a grim reminder of the unpredictability of such violent acts, prompting local authorities to ramp up security measures and urge residents to remain vigilant.