JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Sunday at an online video game tournament that was being livestreamed from a Florida mall, killing two people and sending nine to hospitals, authorities said.
It happened at Jacksonville Landing, a collection of restaurants and shops along the St. Johns River.
Updated reports say David Katz, 24, of Baltimore was the shooter and that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Suspect named in mass Jacksonville Landing Madden tournament shootinghttps://t.co/39qOpPBael pic.twitter.com/w7fihJkg23
— First Coast News (@FCN2go) August 26, 2018
His name was #TrueBoy. Eli Clayton. That was the video gamer who had the red dot painted on his chest before the video cuts out and the shooting begins. He lived for Madden.
— Peter Corless 🌎☮ (@PeterCorless) August 26, 2018
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to release information.
We are aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville. We are working with authorities to gather facts at this stage.
— EA SPORTS Madden NFL (@EAMaddenNFL) August 26, 2018
Katz attacked the video football tournament, which featured the game “Madden NFL 19.” The competition was held in a gaming bar that shares space with a pizzeria. Viewers could watch the games online and see the players. Video seems to show Clayton with a red dot on his chest just prior to shots ringing out.
Look at the smile on his face as he does what he loves. Don’t tell me guns aren’t a problem because Eli Clayton just lost his life. It’s time for something to be done, it’s time, it’s time, he didn’t deserve to die like that. IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE! https://t.co/8W1Y0hS30M
— nev💛☹️ (@AllyClaxton) August 26, 2018
Investigators were looking into online video that appeared to capture the scene right before the shooting began, Williams said.
A red dot that appears to be a laser pointer is visible on the chest of a player seconds before the first of a dozen gunshots rings out.
Jason Lake, the founder and CEO of compLexity, a company that owns professional e-sports teams, said on Twitter that one of his players, 19-year-old Drini Gjoka, was shot in the thumb.
BREAKING: Madden Tournament participant Marquis Williams from Chicago tells @FCN2go he was from 50 feet from the shooter. pic.twitter.com/UrDR8c6o5m
— Eric Alvarez (@FCNEric) August 26, 2018
Gjoka tweeted: “The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back.” Then: “I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life.”
The sheriff’s office used Twitter and Facebook to warn people to stay far away and to ask anyone who was hiding to call 911.
“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 don’t come running out,” the sheriff’s office said via Twitter.
The sheriff’s office did not provide any other information.
Police barricaded a three-block radius around the mall. Officers and Coast Guard boats patrolled the nearby river. Many ambulances could be seen in the area, but the mall area appeared empty of all but law enforcement. Police also took up positions on a bridge overlooking the river.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the attack and the White House was monitoring the situation.
The Jacksonville Landing, in the heart of the city’s downtown, also hosts concerts and other entertainment. It was the site of a Donald Trump rally in 2015, early in his campaign for the White House.
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Farrington reported from Tallahassee, Florida. Laura Heald also contributed to this report from Jacksonville, Florida.
PHOTO: EA Sports Promotional
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