Two men were shot and killed in a parking lot outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland Sunday afternoon, SWAT officials told News 8.
The two suspects drove up and opened fire on the center, which was hosting a Muhammad Art exhibit, and hit a Garland ISD officer.
That officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to a spokesman for Garland Police.
Police were searching the area for a vehicle that had explosives in it.
SWAT members were already at the scene for the art event.
Rowlett/Sachse Scanner reported on Facebook that a suspect was inside a nearby Walmart, off Garland Avenue and Naaman Forest Boulevard, with a hand grenade.
A 1,000-foot radius around the Walmart was shut down and the Academy Store was evacuated, according to that page.
UPDATE, 9:14 PM: Garland Police have reportedly evacuated a nearby WalMart and are searching the car the suspects allegedly drove to the event.
UPDATE, 9:06 PM: A local NBC reporter says the two suspects are dead.
A shooting has been reported at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, where thecontroversial Muhammad Art Exhibit & Contest is being held.
Two gunmen and a police officer were shot, according to WFAA reporter Jobin Panicker, who was at the event.
The context and art exhibit, created in response to a pro-Muslim event in January that drew thousands of protesters, included the awarding of a prize to the cartoonist who drew the best depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. More than 300 entries were received for the contest, with an award of $10,000, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. An Officer Said They Are Concerned the Gunmen Had Explosives
The event was being livestreamed on YouTube. A SWAT team officer interrupted the event and told the crowd that two suspects had been shot. He said they were “worried” that the gunmen may have also “possibly had explosives on them.”
He tells people to remain calm and orderly as they brought them to safety. Someone from the crowd yelled to him, “were the suspects Muslim?” and he responded that he has “no idea right now.”
WFAA reporter Jobin Panicker tweeted that those in attendance at the event were moved into a secure room by police.
Nearby businesses were also evacuated.
Panicker posted video of the event’s attendees singing the Star Spangled Banner after being evacuated.
2. Police Said the Gunmen Drove Up & Started Shooting
Garland Police told Jocelyn Lockwood of NBC 5 that a gunman drove up to the event, got out and started shooting with handguns.
3. The American Freedom Defense Initiative’s Event Has Been a Subject of Controversy
The event created controversy with some saying that it is an attack on Islam. The event’s organizers, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, said it was just exercising its right to freedom of speech, according to the Dallas Morning News.
4. The Organizers Created the Exhibit After a Pro-Islam Event at the Curtis Culwell Center
Read more at Heavy with updates
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