AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) – A week ago, a deadly shooting claimed the lives of eight victims after a gunman opened fire on a crowd of shoppers at a popular mall in Allen.
This shooting took place just weeks before the end of the regular legislature. In a special edition of Eye on Politics (original air date: May 11), political reporter Jack Fink travels to Austin to hear what state lawmakers have to say in response to continued calls to action in the wake of ‘this latest tragedy.
Each week, CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink breaks down some of the biggest political stories grabbing headlines in North Texas and beyond. Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and stream new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 7:00 PM on CBS News Texas.
Remembering those we lost
Eight people, including three children, lost their lives in the shooting. Here’s what we know about the victims.
Aishwarya Thatikonda
A 26 year old woman from India was among the dead. A civil engineer with a degree in construction management, Aishwarya Thatikonda had been in the United States for five years on a work visa, according to a family representative. She was a project manager for Perfect General Contractors.
“She is loved and adored, not because she was murdered in tragic circumstances, but because of who she is personally,” said Srinivas Chaluvadi, her boss.
He would have turned 27 on May 18.
James, Cindy and Kyu Cho
Cindy and Kyu Cho, along with their 3-year-old son James, were killed. The couple’s 6-year-old son, William was also injuredbut he survived.
In a statement sent to CBS News Texas by Cho’s family, they asked for privacy during this time of mourning, saying in part:
“All our attention is now focused on ensuring that William leads a happy and healthy life with his extended family who love him very much.”
Elio Cumana-Rivas
Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was described by a friend at CBS News Texas as a deep guy with a big heart. His friend also said that he had great taste in music and loved the beach.
Originally from Venezuela, Cumana-Rivas had been living in the United States for the past eight months.
Christian LaCour
Christian LaCour worked as a security guard at the mall and was killed while trying to save a shopper’s life.
“She was such a beautiful soul,” her grandmother posted on social media. “I was very proud of him and very happy to have seen him two weeks ago.”
Daniela and Sofia Mendoza
Fourth-grader Daniela Mendoza and her sister, Sofia, a second-grader, were killed in Saturday’s mass shooting. His mother, Ilda, was hospitalized.
CBS News Texas
Texas lawmakers discuss fate of gun control bill
Calls for state lawmakers to take action before the session ends increased this week.
On Monday, the gun reform group Moms Demand Action sang in the roundhouse, advocating for House Bill 2744, which would have raised the legal age to purchase an AR-style firearm from 18 to 21.
A House committee eventually approved the bill, but the measure missed the Tuesday night deadline to reach the full floor for a debate and vote.
Democratic lawmakers say they are not giving up and will continue to try to get the bill debated in the House. Jack spoke with Republican Rep. Jeff Leach of Allen about what’s next.
“This is happening too much,” he said. “I’m a proud supporter of the Second Amendment, I’m a fierce Second Amendment reporter and I will continue to be … but if there are things we can do to prevent this from happening again, we should consider all of those things. options”.
Watch Jack’s interview with Leach below.
This week, Jack also spoke with Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, whose district includes Uvalde, and Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, whose district includes parts of Dallas County.
Gutierrez said, “We have failed to regulate guns. We have failed our communities and people and children are dying.”
Hall feels very differently: “I know people don’t like to hear it, but it’s not guns. It’s people. We have a people problem, that’s what we need to address.”
They are as far apart as two people can be when it comes to guns and whether there should be restrictions on AR-style firearms.
You can listen to both of their interviews below.
Jack Fink
