Miami: Several people were killed in a mass shooting at a video game tournament in the northern Florida city of Jacksonville, local police said Sunday, adding that one suspect was dead.
“Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported,” the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office tweeted, adding that it was unclear whether there was a second possible gunman.
“Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY.”
Jacksonville Sheriff: Shooter could still be in the area. https://t.co/xOJYsFlQ5r pic.twitter.com/Y5G5OrOTk5— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 26, 2018
The Miami Herald newspaper reported four people were dead and 11 wounded in the shooting at the Madden 19 American football tournament in downtown Jacksonville. Madden is a hugely popular multi-player video game based on the National Football League.
According to the LA Times, quoting player Steven “Steveyj” Javaruski, the shooter was a gamer who had been competing and lost.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office: "We are finding many people hiding in locked areas at The Landing. We ask you to stay calm, stay where you are hiding. SWAT is doing a methodical search inside The Landing. We will get to you. Please dont come running out." pic.twitter.com/cdLx0Hm2Q5— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 26, 2018
In subsequent tweets, police said they were still searching The Landing entertainment and shopping complex, where the tournament — a regional qualifier for finals in Las Vegas with a $25,000 prize — was being held at the GLHF Game Bar.
They urged people hiding in locked areas of the complex to stay in place and call 911 to make their location known.
Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY #TheLandingMassShooting— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018
In disturbing footage apparently captured as part of a livestream on the video game streaming website Twitch, several gunshots could be heard in the background, before the stream disconnected. Twitch removed the video, but it remained available on social media.
In a clip of the Jacksonville shooting circulating on Twitter, one can see a red dot aim at a player on the right before the camera cuts out. Twitter
CompLexity Gaming, one of the gaming teams, said its player Young Drini was grazed on the hand.
“Were obviously shocked and saddened by this afternoons events. Our player, Drini, was hit in the thumb but is going to be fine. He managed to escape and run down the street to a nearby gym,” director Jason Lake said.
“I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second,” Drini tweeted.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people at the Madden Tournament in Jacksonville. Its sick to know that someone that evil would shootup a video-game tournament. Dont believe me about the shooting? Here is proof. pic.twitter.com/C652zIW8q1— wyatthudson (@SCSTWyatt) August 26, 2018
Several social media users, including one claiming to be his mother, reported that the prominent professional gamer known as “oLARRY2K” had been shot in the chest.
Survivors of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February, expressed sorrow at news of another mass shooting in the state.
This is at the corner of Bay Street and Laura in downtown #Jacksonville @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/iyPw4tMvv1— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 26, 2018
“Once again, my heart hurts and all of me is so angry. We cannot accept this as our reality,” Delaney Tarr, one of the organizers of the student-led March for Our Lives movement, tweeted.
Florida Governor Rick Scott confirmed he had offered state support in the aftermath of the shooting.
