A masked white man fatally shot three individuals inside a Jacksonville, Fla., Greenback Normal retailer on Saturday in a predominately Black neighbourhood in an assault that the native sheriff referred to as “racially motivated.” The shooter then killed himself.
“He hated black individuals,” Sheriff T.Okay. Waters instructed a information convention. “There’s completely no proof the shooter is a part of any bigger group.”
Waters stated the shooter, who was in his 20s, used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with not less than one of many firearms painted with a swastika. He was sporting a bullet-resistant vest.
The 2 males and one lady who have been killed have been Black, Waters stated. Officers did not instantly launch the names of the victims or the shooter.
The sheriff stated the gunman had left behind writings that led investigators to imagine that he dedicated the taking pictures as a result of it was the fifth anniversary of when one other gunman opened fire during a video game tournament in Jacksonville, killing two individuals earlier than fatally taking pictures himself.
<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/JSO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#JSO</a> Sheriff T.Okay. Waters, together with Mayor Donna Deegan, and different LEO companions and metropolis leaders gathered at the moment to talk about a taking pictures involving three victims – all of which died.<br><br>The suspect was positioned and pinned down by officers. He was subsequently discovered deceased and is… <a href=”https://t.co/G9TzOckC7D”>pic.twitter.com/G9TzOckC7D</a>
—@JSOPIO
The taking pictures occurred simply earlier than 2 p.m. ET at a Greenback Normal close to Edward Waters College, a small traditionally Black college. Waters stated the suspect was seen on campus shortly earlier than the taking pictures, placing on his vest and a masks.
“I am unable to inform you what his mindset was whereas he was there, however he did go there,” the sheriff stated.
Edward Waters College college students have been being stored of their dorms, the varsity stated in a press release. No college students or school are believed concerned, the varsity stated.
The shooter had pushed there from neighbouring Clay County. Shortly earlier than the assault, the shooter had despatched his father a textual content message telling him to test his pc. The daddy discovered writings and the household notified 911, however the taking pictures had already begun, the sheriff stated.
‘Darkish day in Jacksonville’s historical past’
“This can be a darkish day in Jacksonville’s historical past. There is no such thing as a place for hate on this neighborhood,” Waters stated. “I’m sickened by this cowardly shooter’s private ideology.” He stated the investigation will proceed and that the shooter’s house is being searched.
Mayor Donna Deegan stated she is “heartbroken.”
“This can be a neighborhood that has suffered repeatedly. So many occasions that is the place we find yourself,” Deegan stated. “That is one thing that ought to not and should not proceed to occur in our neighborhood.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, after talking by telephone with the sheriff, referred to as the shooter a “scumbag” and denounced his racist motivation.
“This man killed himself moderately than face the music and settle for duty for his actions. He took the coward’s method out,” stated DeSantis, who was in Iowa campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination.
Each U.S. President Joe Biden and Lawyer Normal Merrick Garland have been briefed on the taking pictures, officers stated.
‘Ready to listen to about my co-workers’
Penny Jones instructed the The Related Press that she labored on the retailer till a couple of months in the past. She lives a couple of blocks away within the predominantly Black neighbourhood.
“I am simply ready to listen to about my co-workers that I used to work with,” Jones stated. “I do not know if it is protected to maneuver in regards to the neighbourhood.”
Jones added that she was “feeling awkward, scared.”
“I do not wish to go away my home. I am pondering, do I wish to return to the shop? Is that this going to begin taking place extra steadily? I do not know what the reason for it’s. I am confused. It is a number of completely different emotions occurring proper now,” she stated.
Newest taking pictures to focus on Black communities
The lethal taking pictures passed off inside hours of the conclusion of a commemorative March on Washington within the nation’s capital, the place organizers drew consideration to the rising risk of hate-motivated violence towards individuals of color.
An assault on a buying centre in a predominately Black neighbourhood will undoubtedly evoke fears of previous shootings concentrating on Black People, just like the one at a Buffalo, N.Y., grocery store in 2022, and one at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.
The Buffalo grocery store taking pictures, particularly, stands aside as one of many deadliest focused assaults on Black individuals by a white lone gunman in U.S. historical past. Ten individuals have been killed by the gunman, who has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.