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Senior News Editor since 2004
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'Multiple Fatalities' Reported in 'Mass Shooting' at Jacksonville Video Game Tournament: Sheriff
The Jacksonville Sheriff tweeted that there were "multiple fatalities"
By Torey Van Oot
Published 6 hours ago | Updated 2 hours ago
Multiple people are dead after a mass shooting at an entertainment complex hosting a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, authorities said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Department confirmed news of the shooting at Jacksonville Landing, a mall and event space, via Twitter just after 2 p.m. Sunday. Officials have not released a death toll but confirmed that there were "multiple fatalities" with "many" transported to hospitals." The Associated Press, citing a source, is reporting that four are dead.
Officials offered few details at a late afternoon press conference, except to say that the scene has been cleared and that the sole suspect in the shooting, identified only as a white male, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was not clear if the official included the suspect in the death toll.
The shooting "appears to have occurred inside a pizza restaurant that includes a bar dedicated to video games and other forms of gaming," NBC News is reporting. The bar was hosting a Madden 19 Southeastern Qualifier Tournament at the time, according to NBC. Multiple shots could be heard ringing out in a video from an XBox Live stream that purports to capture the gunfire at the tournament. NBC News has not confirmed the authenticity of the video.
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.
Gjoka tweeted: "The tourney just got shot up. Im leaving and never coming back." Then: "I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life."
Electronic Arts, the company that makes the popular football video game, confirmed that it is "aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville."
"This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved," the company tweeted.
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, but also warned reporters to stay away from the area.
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.
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.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the president has been briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio responded on Twitter, reiterating that the "situation still unfolding, law enforcement is asking everyone to avoid the area."
'Multiple Fatalities' Reported in 'Mass Shooting' at Jacksonville Video Game Tournament: Sheriff
The Jacksonville Sheriff tweeted that there were "multiple fatalities"
By Torey Van Oot
Published 6 hours ago | Updated 2 hours ago
Multiple people are dead after a mass shooting at an entertainment complex hosting a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, authorities said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Department confirmed news of the shooting at Jacksonville Landing, a mall and event space, via Twitter just after 2 p.m. Sunday. Officials have not released a death toll but confirmed that there were "multiple fatalities" with "many" transported to hospitals." The Associated Press, citing a source, is reporting that four are dead.
Officials offered few details at a late afternoon press conference, except to say that the scene has been cleared and that the sole suspect in the shooting, identified only as a white male, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was not clear if the official included the suspect in the death toll.
The shooting "appears to have occurred inside a pizza restaurant that includes a bar dedicated to video games and other forms of gaming," NBC News is reporting. The bar was hosting a Madden 19 Southeastern Qualifier Tournament at the time, according to NBC. Multiple shots could be heard ringing out in a video from an XBox Live stream that purports to capture the gunfire at the tournament. NBC News has not confirmed the authenticity of the video.
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.
Gjoka tweeted: "The tourney just got shot up. Im leaving and never coming back." Then: "I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life."
Electronic Arts, the company that makes the popular football video game, confirmed that it is "aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville."
"This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved," the company tweeted.
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, but also warned reporters to stay away from the area.
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.
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.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the president has been briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio responded on Twitter, reiterating that the "situation still unfolding, law enforcement is asking everyone to avoid the area."