A former police officer and Army officer, Steven Spainhouer, was thrust into the position of being the first responder on the scene of a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas on Saturday.
Spainhouer's son, who works at the H&M store in the mall, called him to inform him of the active shooting situation. Spainhouer instructed his son to shelter in place and not to open the door. He then rushed to the mall, which took approximately six minutes, only to find no police or EMTs at the shooting site.
"I never imagined in 100 years I would be thrust into the position of being the first first responder on the site to take care of people," Spainhouer told KHOU. "I found seven people shot in front of the store," he told MSNBC. He called 911 and informed them, "We have a mass casualty incident."
Spainhouer found a child who survived the mass shooting by being protected by his deceased mother. "So when I rolled the mother over, he came out, and I asked him, 'Are you OK?'"
The boy said, "My mom is hurt, my mom is hurt." "So rather than traumatize him anymore, I put him around the corner, sat him down," Spainhouer recalled. "He was covered from head to toe, like somebody poured blood on him."
Spainhouer also spoke about the third victim he attempted to help. "I started chest compressions on him, he spit up blood, and then he just looked at me and expired in front of me." "The others were too far gone," he said. "No one can see what they saw today and not be affected by it. It's not a situation that I would wish upon anybody. It's just unfathomable to see the carnage," he said.
Eight people were shot and killed at the Allen Premium Outlets, about 25 miles north of Dallas. There are at least seven others injured during the mass shooting.
Authorities have yet to release the name of the shooter. WFAA reported that the suspect is in his 30s and lives with his parents in Dallas. The outlet noted that the FBI questioned the family at their Dallas home, adding that investigators "have also asked for a translator."
"It's tough when you see a family that's out shopping, having fun, then get wiped off the face of the Earth because somebody with a gun has some other type of issue," Spainhouer declared. "No one can see what they saw today without being affected by it. It's not a situation that I would wish upon anybody. It's just unfathomable to see the carnage."
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