Jacksonville: police report 'multiple fatalities' in Florida mass shooting

Police say one suspect dead at the scene, no other suspects
Shooting took place at online gaming tournament

Police reported “multiple fatalities’ in a mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday. Hours later, the number of dead and wounded had not been released but police confirmed that a suspect was dead at the scene.

The shooting took place at an online gaming tournament at a popular complex of shops and restaurants called the Jacksonville Landing. In the aftermath, the local sheriff said officers were “finding many people hiding in locked areas”.

At a short press briefing, Jacksonville sheriff Mike Williams said: “We just finished clearing the [Jacksonville] Landing of potential witnesses and victims. We have no outstanding suspects at this time. We have one suspect, he is deceased at the scene, he is a white male and we are working to establish his identity.”

There were no outstanding suspects, he said. Williams also said there were “deceased victims” and wounded people but said authorities did not know how many of either.

Reuters reported that hospital staff said six victims were taken to Jacksonville’s UF Health Hospital, five in stable condition and one in serious condition. The same outlet said a spokesman for Jacksonville’s Memorial Hospital said it was treating three victims, all in stable condition.

In an earlier Facebook post, datelined Jacksonville, Ryen Aleman of Robstown, Texas, posted: “Don’t wish anyone on this – the scariest moment of my life. Just thank God I made it out of there safe. Prayers for everyone that is out there right now.”

The post carried widely circulated video and audio of what appeared to be a shooting interrupting a game of Madden NFL 19 football.

Speaking to CNN, Aleman said: “Everyone ducked down. I got down and crawled to the bathroom.” He added: “I heard so many gunshots, 20 at least. I’m so shocked I can hardly talk.”

“Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing,” police said earlier, on Twitter, announcing the shooting to the world. “Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY.” The warning was for media too.

The sheriff then said: “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.”

Further tweets said: “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. If you are hiding in the Landing, call 911 so we can get to you.”

The Jacksonville Landing area contains restaurants and shops and is situated along the St Johns river. A notice on the website of EA Sports stated: “This weekend, the first of four Madden NFL 19 Classic qualifier events will take place at the GLHF game bar in Jacksonville, Florida.”

An eSports team, comPlexity Gaming, said on Twitter it was not an organiser but one of its players “was grazed in the hand” and was “away from the scene and safe”.

The player, 19-year-old Drini Gjoka, was hit in the thumb by a bullet. He tweeted: “Worst day of my life”, then: “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”

In a message sent via Twitter, comPlexity Gaming founder Jason Lake told reporters: “We’re obviously shocked and saddened by this afternoon’s events. Drini managed to escape and run down the street to a nearby gym. He’s currently cooperating with the authorities and we will be flying him out of Jacksonville as soon as we are given the green light from the officials on the ground.”

Speaking to CNN, Aleman described the venue as being at the back of a pizza restaurant. He described the use of a laser-aimed gun and said he thought two men had come into the venue through the restaurant and started shooting. Aleman said he saw at least six people on the floor who had been shot, and that there were 40 to 50 people in the venue, “just running around everywhere”.

After he had been hiding in a locked bathroom for about 10 minutes, he said, the shooting stopped.

“Everyone was crying,” he said. “I hear people yelling ‘Help me, I’m shot.’ I peeked out because I didn’t know if the gunman was still around. I was scared for my life.”

Vic Micolucci, a reporter for local station WJXT, told CNN a source said there were at least 15 victims, of whom four were understood to be dead. The Associated Press, citing a “source close to the investigation”, said at least four people were killed and the suspect killed himself. The Jacksonville sheriff said on Twitter: “There are inaccurate numbers being distributed by local and national media.”

Florida governor Rick Scott said local authorities would be provided with all required assistance. Senator Marco Rubio said federal authorities were involved. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Donald Trump had been briefed on events in Florida.

source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/26/jacksonville-florida-mass-shooting