At least four people were dead and 11 others were being treated after a “mass shooting” on Sunday in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., during a gaming event at a popular shopping center filled with bars and restaurants, law enforcement sources told Fox News on Sunday.
The gunfire was heard around 1 p.m ET at a video gaming event held at Jacksonville Landing, Madden NFL Championship Series. The shooting, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, happened “inside one of the restaurants in the Landing.”
Investigators said that “no outstanding suspects” remains, and noted a suspect, only identified as a white male, was found dead at the scene. It was not immediately clear whether that suspect was among the four reported killed.
“Multiple fatalities” reported after a mass shooting at Jacksonville Landing in Florida. (Brittney Donovan/ActionJaxNews)
A source told The Associated Press that the suspect who opened fire died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident is being investigated as a criminal act, and not an act of terrorism, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
One witness at the gaming event told Fox News that someone who was competing in the tournament lost and was upset. A previous account from the witness stated the suspect “went crazy and started shooting up the room,” but later clarified that in events like this, “There are multiple guys who are upset or are saying things are like, ‘BS,’ if you will.”
Police have not confirmed a possible motive, nor have they released the name of a suspect.
The gamer said he had gone outside of the building — which he said had roughly 50 people inside — to make a phone call when the shots rang out. He said he saw people fighting to get out of the place, and he started running from the area.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on Twitter it is responding to the reported mass shooting in downtown Jacksonville.
Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville confirmed to Fox News that three individuals are being treated right now, and remain in stable condition.
The shooting took place in the Jacksonville Landing area, which is located along the St. Johns River and is described as an area with “a wide variety of waterfront dining options and a cozy inside shopping mall.”
Several people on social media participating in the Madden NFL tournament reported hearing gunshots shortly after 1:30 p.m. during the livestream of the tournament on the platform Twitch. Sunday’s event was held at GLHF Game Bar, which is located in Jacksonville Landing.
Just saw someone on a stretcher loaded into an ambulance at this intersection. This is near the #Jacksonville Landing where @ActionNewsJax is told there has been a shooting pic.twitter.com/AY0GwTfTx7
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 26, 2018
A video surfaced on social media showing players disconnecting from the game as gunshots were heard in the background. At least 12 gunshots were heard in the video.
A reporter from Fox affiliate WJAX-TV, Brittney Donovan, said that at least one person was seen being loaded onto a stretcher and into an ambulance.
Madden NFL 19 is a new video game based on the NFL that’s developed and published by EA Sports.
The sheriff’s office said that “many people” were found hiding in locked areas at the riverfront shopping complex.
“We ask you to stay calm, stay where you are hiding. SWAT is doing a methodical search inside The Landing,” police said. “We will get to you. Please don’t come running out.”
I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb
— Drini Gjoka (@Drini) August 26, 2018
Drini Gjoka, who won the 2018 Madden Challenge, said on Twitter he was injured in the shooting in a series of posts on Twitter.
Worst day of my life
— Drini Gjoka (@Drini) August 26, 2018
“The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng [sic] and never coming back,” Gjoka wrote.
“I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb,” he posted. “Worst day of my life.”
SK Gaming, a professional eSports organization based in Germany, said it sent a player to the event in Florida that there was a shooting at the tournament.
“There was a shooting at the Madden tournament in Jacksonville. Our player @JoelCP_ is safe. Our thoughts are with everyone that had to be part of such a horrendous event. Stay strong, stay safe,” the organization tweeted.
The Southbank is empty. The Northbank riverwalk is too. A couple boats in the water. #JacksonvilleMassShooting pic.twitter.com/5QwmwHNwj9
— Letisha Bereola (@LetishaANjax) August 26, 2018
Electronic Arts tweeted the company is “aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville. We are working with authorites to gather facts at this stage.”
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said that President Trump has been briefed on the situation, and is monitoring.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott also said his office is monitoring what unfolded in Jacksonville, and “offered state support & resources” to the city’s mayor, Lenny Curry.
The Jacksonville Landing hosts more than 600 events each year including Florida/Georgia Weekend Celebrations, the city’s annual Christmas Tree lighting, in addition to New Year’s Eve and July 4th celebrations.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/26/mass-shooting-reported-at-jacksonville-landing-police-say.html
“A source told The Associated Press that the suspect who opened fire died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Which always beings MK Ultra to mind immediately, for some strange reason (unless the pigs arrived BEFORE the ‘suicide’, that is).
IF this shooting is, in fact, valid to begin with.
I know what real gunfire sounds like and that sound is Not gunfire, its much louder ,that noise sounds like two people are playing ping pong, I might not be the smartest man in the world however I am not that stupid.
as you probably know its just another attempt to GET THE GUNS, GET THE GUNS and that is all this is however its a little different ,its all under trump nothing has changed!
its just one lie after another I am so sick of it one fake shooting after another and I cant stand it anymore!
News casters saying there was a training going on when this happened.
https://twitter.com/VibeHi/status/1033816026268557318
Jewish Gamer Suspected Of Killing Two At Jacksonville Video Game Tournament
https://forward.com/fast-forward/408997/jewish-gamer-suspected-of-killing-two-at-jacksonville-video-game/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Main
.
Exactly 3 years ago – two men from Iowa came to Boston for the Pokémon Go tournament. The had guns and ammo too….. …Stumbo, 27 and Norton, 18. The plot (?) was foiled however.
I can’t recall all the details but it seems strange.
Just more mk ultra/ubavitcher bullshit…
“There was a training that was actually happening with jfrd during the time of the shooting.”
This from a channel 4 newscast.
That, the “shooter” is a joo and the owner of the landing venue is eli sleiman..interesting..
Martist, for some strange reason they didn’t bother to mention this. I wonder why?
Not this shit again!!!!