11-year-old Daniella and 8-year-old Sophia Mendoza were among the eight people who were killed in the shooting that occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas on May 6, 2023. Both Mendoza sisters swam for the City Of Richardson (COR) Swim Team, a club located in northern Texas.
Daniella and Sophia Mendoza the loving daughters of Ilda and Alejandro Mendoza are in our hearts. Dani and Sofi were happy, loving, smiling, eager to learn, precious girls and a part of the COR family. As part of our Jumbo Shrimps, they were ready and preparing to the join the next group. The girls were tragically taken by a senseless and horrific act in Allen. They will always be a part of our COR family and their loving and extended family. Please give love and grace to Ilda and Alejandro. Our hearts are saddened and our hearts are full.
Iida Mendoza, the mother of the Mendoza children, was also wounded in the shooting and is currently hospitalized. A GoFundMe has been set up for the Mendoza family.
- To support the Mendoza family via GoFundMe, click on the link here.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Sophia and Daniela were students at Cheri Cox Elementary school. Sophia was an honor student with dreams of becoming an author and actress, and had started writing her own book titled “The Twins That Didn’t Think Like Twins” on the morning of the shooting. Daniela, meanwhile, was named “Most Likely To Become A Teacher” and said that math was her favorite subject. Both sisters won awards for perfect attendance.
Iida was described as a woman who “poured herself into her daughters”, showing up to all of their swim practices despite being busy working as an accountant.
The Allen mall shooting began at 3:36 PM Central Time on May 6, when 33-year-old shooter Mauricio Martinez Garcia opened fire. He shot 15 people within three or four minutes, and in addition to killing eight people, he also injured seven more (with three of them being in critical condition). Out of the eight people that were killed by Garcia, five were adults and three were children.
A police officer shot and killed Martinez.
On the Wednesday after the shooting, students and teachers wore yellow to honor the Mendoza sisters, as yellow was their favorite color.
My prayers are with the family.
Fuck, that’s awful.
I couldn’t even remember which one “Allen Mall” was and it was like two weeks ago, too. Just another fun wrinkle of being American.
Horrible story and devastating for the COR team. It makes it so incredibly present when it hits home in a small team like this. I won’t join the chorus and offer meaningless thoughts and prayers, instead I will implore you to join us in supporting this family by donating to the go fund me.
This is an incredibly sad moment for the family and the swimming community, destroyed by an act of meaningless cruelty.
Rest in peace little hearts. Deepest condolences to the greiving family
This story touches my core… swimmers are a unique and tight group… my deepest sympathies to family and friends.
Sincerest condolences to the Mendoza family, friends, and classmates.
RIP, you dear little hearts.