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Mass shooting at Madden video games tournament in Florida

Mass shooting in video games tournament in Florida

At least 4 people killed, 11 wounded in Madden video games tournament in Jacksonville; shooter who competed in tournament and lost commits suicide after attack; 'God, someone opened fire at the Madden tournament,' victim tweets.

A video player who competed in the Madden video game tournament and lost, shot and killed at least four people and injured 11 at the tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday. The assailant committed suicide after the attack, and was found dead at the scene. No other suspects were reported.

 

 

The event was being streamed online from a restaurant in Jacksonville Landing, Florida, Tthe local sheriff's office said, adding that the public should avoid the area.

 

Local media, citing police sources, said four people were killed and about 11 wounded.

 

Mass shooting at Madden football video game tournament in Florid.
Mass shooting at Madden football video game tournament in Florid.

"Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time," the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said on Twitter. "We can't stress enough to stay away. Many blocks away."

 

The sheriff’s office said one suspect was dead at the scene and that it was unknown whether there was a second suspect. “Searches are being conducted,” the sheriff’s office said.

 

Many people were transported to hospital, it said.

 

The shooting took place at a restaurant at Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront dining, entertainment and shopping site in downtown Jacksonville, according to local media.

 

The business was livestreaming a tournament for a Madden football video game when several shots rang out, according to video of the stream shared on social media.

 

In the video, players can be seen reacting to the gunfire and cries can be heard before the footage cuts off.

 

One Twitter user, Drini Gjoka, said he was in the tournament and was shot in the thumb. "Worst day of my life,” Gjoka wrote on Twitter. “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”

 

The sheriff’s office said its deputies were 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,” it said on Twitter. “We will get to you. Please don’t come running out.”

 

 

Local news footage showed several ambulances, as well as firefighters and police officers, on the scene, as well as roads being blocked off in the downtown area..

 

The Florida shooting occurs amid a debate about US gun laws that was given fresh impetus by the massacre in February of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

 

Two years ago a gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

 

The sheriff's office said many people were transported to hospital, and its deputies were 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," it said on Twitter. "We will get to you. Please don't come running out."

 

Florida Governor Rick Scott said he had offered the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office any state resources it needed.

 

Florida Senator Marco Rubio said both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance.

 

President Donald Trump has been briefed and is monitoring the situation in Jacksonville, the White House said.

 

Reacting to news of the shooting during the tournament involving its video game, Madden 19 maker Electronic Arts Inc said it was working with authorities to gather facts.

 

"This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved," the company said on Twitter.  

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.26.18, 22:09
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