The man suspected of killing eight and wounding seven at an outlet mall in a suburb of Dallas, Texas, sought to enter the U.S. Army years ago but was “terminated” after three months before exiting entry training, the Pentagon has confirmed.
A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation previously said Mauricio Garcia, 33, who was killed after being engaged by a police officer in the Saturday incident in Allen, Texas, served in the military for a brief period but was expelled for mental health reasons, CNN reported. Officials confirmed Monday that Garcia had been “terminated” from the Army.
“He was separated under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5–17, Other designated physical or mental conditions,” an Army official told the DCNF. (RELATED: Texas GOP Rep. Says Americans Should Carry Guns To Stop Active Shooters, Following Mall Shooting)
Army officials later confirmed that Garcia tried to join the service in 2008 but did not make it past the basic entrance period and may have been separated for mental deficiencies.
“Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty,” or assigned occupation, Heather J. Hagan, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“He had no deployments or awards,” she added.
NEW: The man who allegedly drove an SUV into a group of migrants has been identified as Brownsville, Texas, local George Alvarez, who has an “extensive” criminal history, Brownsville Police Department Chief Felix Sauceda said Monday.https://t.co/55NU9rt8ji @dailycaller
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) May 8, 2023
Hagan declined to specify whether he was discharged under honorable circumstances or otherwise.
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