Three people are dead, including the suspect, following a mass shooting Sunday during a video game tournament in a shopping and dining precinct in Jacksonville, Fla.
“There were three deceased individuals at the scene, one of those being the suspect, who took his own life,” Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams told reporters Sunday evening, describing what had taken place at the riverside entertainment complex in downtown Jacksonville.
Williams said 11 people injured in the attack were either taken to hospital or reported to emergency rooms on their own; nine of those victims had gunshot wounds. While patients were in a stable condition, those numbers could climb as more injured contact police, he warned.
The shooter is believed to be 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore, Md., Williams continued. Katz, who had earlier been described as a “white male,” opened fire on the online gamers with a hand gun.
Williams encouraged anyone with information to tell police what they know. Federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are supporting local and state authorities investigate the incident.
Reports of shots being fired during a Madden NFL 19 Classic qualifier event at Jacksonville Landing’s Chicago Pizza were conveyed to police at 1.34 p.m. Officers were on the scene two minutes later. None of the dead or injured were staff members of the venue.
A video of a Twitch live stream has been widely shared on social media, capturing the exact moment of the shooting. Gunfire can be heard along with screams.
Professional eSports organization CompLexity Gaming said one of its participating team members, Drini Gjoka, was safe, but that his hand was grazed by a bullet.
An update from the Jacksonville Madden event:
There appears to have been a shooting at the event, and @YoungDrini was grazed in the hand. He is away from the scene and safe.
— compLexity Gaming (@compLexity) August 26, 2018
“I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb,” Gjoka tweeted. “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”
I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second
— Drini Gjoka (@YoungDrini) August 26, 2018
Eye witness Steven “Steveyj” Javaruski told the Los Angeles Times the deceased alleged shooter was a competitor in the tournament who lost.
President Trump, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., have been briefed by authorities and continue to monitor the situation.
The “Madden NFL 19” video game was developed by EA Sports. The company issued a statement on Twitter Sunday saying it was aware of the shooting.
“This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved,” EA Sports wrote on Twitter.
This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved.
— EA SPORTS Madden NFL (@EAMaddenNFL) August 26, 2018
The NFL echoed EA Sports’ comments, stating “our hearts go out to all those affected.”
“We are grateful for the first responders immediately at the scene,” the NFL wrote. “We support our partners at EA Sports and will continue to monitor developments with local law enforcement.”
Jackson Landing management also said it was providing whatever assistance needed to help the response and ongoing probe.
