Child, six, among five injured as truck crashes into Texas shopping centre – police shoot driver dead

The driver of a pickup truck has been shot dead by police after crashing his vehicle into a shopping centre in Texas and injuring five people, including a six-year-old child.

Officers said that after a chase with the driver, he struck a JCPenney store in Killeen about 68 miles (109 km) north of the state capital Austin and was “actively running people over”.

They “engaged in gunfire to eliminate this threat”, said Sergeant Bryan Washko of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The chase began around 5pm (11pm UK time) on Saturday in Belton, about 20 miles (30km) from Killeen, after authorities received calls about an erratic driver.

The driver then entered the car park of a shopping centre before hitting the JCPenney store “striking multiple people”, Sergeant Washko said.

Officers followed on foot with the vehicle travelling several hundred yards and “driving through the store, actively running people over”. The suspect was then shot dead.

“Luckily they got him fairly quickly, but he did travel a long, long way,” Mr Washko added.

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No details were revealed about the suspect’s identity.

Paramedics took four people to local hospitals and a fifth went on their own. They ranged in age from six to 75 years old but there has been no update about their condition.

Local media described witnesses hearing multiple gunshots and seeing people fleeing through the shopping centre.

“To those that were involved, you know, our prayers are with them, of course, and their families, especially at Christmas time,” said Sergeant Washko.