27-8-2023 (FLORIDA) A racially-motivated shooter killed three Black individuals in Jacksonville, Florida, before taking his own life, local authorities reported on Saturday (Aug 26).
The shooter, a white male in his early 20s, was heavily armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun, and he opened fire inside a Dollar General discount store, targeting a specific group of Black people, according to Sheriff TK Waters.
Sheriff Waters disclosed that manifestos discovered by the shooter’s family prior to the attack contained hateful ideologies, making the incident a potential hate crime. The FBI will be leading the investigation into the shooting.
This tragedy is one in a series of recent gun violence incidents in the United States, with fatal incidents reported in Boston, Chicago, and Oklahoma over the weekend.
The Associated Press revealed that the shooter left behind writings suggesting that the attack was timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of a previous shooting during a video game tournament in Jacksonville, where two people were killed by another gunman who subsequently took his own life.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 pm near Edward Waters University, a historically Black university. Students at the university were instructed to remain in their dormitories, and there are no indications that any students or faculty members were involved.
Former store employee Penny Jones, who lives nearby, expressed her concerns, saying she was “feeling awkward, scared.” She added that she was hesitant to leave her home and was uncertain about returning to the store. The incident has left her and others in the predominantly Black neighborhood with a sense of confusion and fear about the safety of their community.
BREAKING | Multiple fatalities are being reported after an active shooter situation near Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida.
The shooting occurred at a Dollar General store; the suspect has barricaded himself inside the store.
pic.twitter.com/5g5H0ac3Bi— READY ALERTS (@ReadyAlerts) August 26, 2023
