Today at a Madden 19 tournament in downtown Jacksonville, Florida saw multiple fatalities and many wounded following a suspect going off on a mass shooting spree, reportedly after losing a game, and then proceeding to kill himself.
Police and witnesses have taken to social media to describe the scene as it unfolded and after the shooting took place.
“Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet two hours ago. “Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported. One suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted.”
Another tweet from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office stated: “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. **IMPORTANT** If you are hiding in The Landing. Call 911 so we can get to you.”
It’s reported that three are dead including the suspect, with another eleven injured that are being treated at local hospitals.
A witness and competitor at the scene, Steven Javaruski, filled in reporters that the shooter “targeted a few people” and shot at least five victims before killing himself, Javaruski told the LA Times. The gunman killed two or three people “that I saw,” Javaruski said.
A gamer who won the Madden tourney last year tweeted: “I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb,” said Drini Gjoka. “Worst day of my life.”
Electronic Arts, the maker of Madden 19, also tweeted: “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. This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved.”
Fox News also reports President Trump has been made aware of the incident and that the White House is monitoring the situation.
“As we await further details, our hearts are with Jacksonville and all those affected by today’s tragic mass shooting,” Ivanka Trump tweeted.
Police have not released the name of the suspect as of yet, but have stated he is a white male, and that there are no additional suspects.
Update: The suspect’s name is David Katz, 24, of Baltimore.
Warning: Graphic video:
Oh my god someone just shot up the Jacksonville madden tournament. This is unreal I hope everyone is okay. https://t.co/vs0eS2upIV
— Kyrie Curry (@THATS_FlNE) August 26, 2018
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
