Biden issues statement after deadly Texas mall shooting

(NewsNation) — At least nine people are dead, including the suspected shooter, after the gunman opened fire at a busy mall outside Dallas, officials announced Saturday.

The Allen fire department said they found seven dead upon arrival at the scene, and transported nine victims to a medical facility, fire chief Jonathan Boyd announced at a press conference.

Of the nine who were taken to the hospital, two have died, three are in critical condition and four are stable.

In a statement released Saturday morning, President Joe Biden lamented the latest multi-victim shooting in the U.S.

“Jill and I are praying for their families and for others critically injured, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly and courageously to save lives,” the statement read in part.

He also called out -- though not by name -- some members of the GOP for not doing “enough.”

“Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”

An Allen Police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the police department wrote on Facebook.

“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He th...