This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/26/jacksonville-florida-mass-shooting

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Jacksonville: police report 'multiple fatalities' in Florida mass shooting Jacksonville: police report 'multiple fatalities' in Florida mass shooting
(35 minutes later)
Police reported “multiple fatalities’ in a mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday. One suspect was dead at the scene, the local sheriff’s office said, adding that it did not know if there was a second suspect and officers were “finding many people hiding in locked areas”. Police reported “multiple fatalities’ in a mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday. Hours later, the number of dead and wounded had not been confirmed.
The shooting reportedly took place at an online gaming tournament. One suspect was quickly reported dead at the scene, as the local sheriff’s office said its officers were “finding many people hiding in locked areas”.
In a 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 shooting took place at an online gaming tournament at a popular complex of shops and restaurants called the Jacksonville Landing.
His post carried widely circulated video and audio of what appeared to be a shooting interrupting a game of Madden NFL 19 football. 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.
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.”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,” the Jacksonville sheriff’s office said earlier, on Twitter. “Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY.” The warning was for media too, the sheriff’s office said, adding: “It is for safety.” “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’s office said.
The police 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.”The police 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.”
A further tweet 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. 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.”
“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.”
The Jacksonville Landing area contains restaurants and shops and is situated along the St Johns river. An eSports team, comPlexity Gaming, said on Twitter it was not an organiser of the event but one of its players “was grazed in the hand” and was “away from the scene and safe”.
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.” 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.”
An eSports team, comPlexity Gaming, said on Twitter it was not an organiser of the event in Jacksonville but one of its players “was grazed in the hand” and was “away from the scene and safe”. 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 came into the venue through the restaurant. 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”.
“They went to the back and they just started shooting everyone, and people were just dropping,” he said. After he had been hiding in a locked bathroom for about 10 minutes, he said, the shooting stopped.
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”. “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.”
After he had been hiding in a locked bathroom for about 10 minutes, he said, the shooting stopped: “Everyone was crying. 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.
Vic Micolucci, a reporter for local station WJXT, told CNN there were at least 11 victims, of whom four were understood to be dead.
In Virginia, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Donald Trump had been briefed on events in Florida.In Virginia, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Donald Trump had been briefed on events in Florida.
FloridaFlorida
US crimeUS crime
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content