Crime
Employee Fatally Shot at Cookie Shop Inside Red Bird Mall, Female Suspect Arrested
UPDATE — A 43-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jaime Alejandro Rokkett, 53, the owner of Cookies ’N Smoothies, inside The Shops at RedBird on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to the 3600 block of West Camp Wisdom Road around 4:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Dallas Fire-Rescue also arrived, but Rokkett was pronounced dead at the scene. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his identity.
The suspect, identified as Rashonda Lowe, allegedly entered the cookie business and engaged in a conversation with Rokkett that lasted approximately an hour, according to a probable cause affidavit.
DALLAS, TEXAS – A tragic and violent incident unfolded Monday at Red Bird Mall in Dallas, where an employee at a cookie shop was shot and killed following a reported altercation with a customer.
Authorities say the suspect is believed to be a woman who fled the scene in a white SUV later apprehended.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect entered the cookie shop and engaged in a verbal dispute with an employee.
The argument escalated quickly, and the woman reportedly jumped over the counter, produced a firearm, and shot the employee twice in the head at close range.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the mall.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Their identity has not yet been released pending family notification.
Mall stores were immediately placed on lockdown as police secured the area.
A witness who had just exited the mall at the time of the shooting said, “Thank God I was just at the door,” describing the shock and panic among nearby shoppers.
The Dallas Police Department is actively investigating the shooting and working to identify and locate the suspect.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Dallas Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
Further updates will be released as the investigation continues.
AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities have identified the three victims killed in Sunday morning’s mass shooting outside Buford’s Bar on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin. The attack left three civilians dead and more than a dozen others injured before the gunman was fatally shot by police.
The victims have been identified as Savitha Shan, 21; Ryder Harrington, 19; and Jorge Pederson, 30.
According to the Austin Police Department, the suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, opened fire from his vehicle before exiting and continuing to shoot into a crowd in the busy entertainment district near the University of Texas campus.
Officers who were already stationed nearby responded within seconds and fatally shot the suspect.
Officials stated that the rapid response likely prevented additional casualties.
Four people are now confirmed dead, including the shooter.
At least 14 others were transported to area hospitals, with several initially listed in critical condition.
Savitha Shan, 21, was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was known for her leadership and campus involvement. The university referred to her by her full name, Savitha Shanmugasundaram.
UT President Jim Davis addressed the campus community, stating:
“Today, it was confirmed that among those who lost their lives is one UT student. A child of loving parents. A loyal friend to many. A Longhorn preparing to change the world. It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her.”
Shan was active in Austin’s Tamil Sangam community and participated in Raas Roedo, which organizes traditional Gujarati folk dance events. She also founded an e-commerce venture known as Sunflakestickers.
Ryder Harrington, 19, had previously attended Texas Tech University and was a member of its Beta Theta Pi chapter. Loved ones described him as “a beloved son, brother, and friend whose kindness and presence touched countless lives.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist his family with funeral and related expenses as they navigate what relatives describe as an unimaginable loss.
Jorge Pederson, 30, was identified as the third victim to succumb to his injuries. Authorities confirmed he had initially been listed in critical condition at a local hospital following the shooting. Pederson was described by Med City Fighting Championships as a “beloved Minnesotan fighter.”
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson urged the community to support one another during the period of mourning, stating:
“Continue to lift them and their families up. And Austin, keep reaching out to each other. Take care of each other. What we do for each other matters, especially in this time of mourning and grief.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Joint Terrorism Task Force have joined the investigation. Officials confirmed the incident is being reviewed as a possible act of terrorism, though no final determination regarding motive has been formally announced.
Investigators reported that the suspect was wearing clothing bearing the phrase “Property of Allah” at the time of the attack.
A Quran was recovered from his vehicle, and additional reports indicate he was wearing an undershirt displaying imagery associated with the Iranian flag.
Authorities are examining whether ideological motivations or international developments may have influenced the attack.
Newly released video footage shows the moment the gunman began firing into the crowd, underscoring the speed and severity of the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue reviewing surveillance footage, digital evidence, and witness accounts.
City leaders have pledged to provide additional updates as confirmed information becomes available.
The Austin community continues to grieve the lives lost and support those injured in what has become one of the city’s most devastating acts of violence in recent years.