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Jacksonville Landing shooting

Coordinates: 30°19′30″N 81°39′39″W / 30.324899°N 81.660873°W / 30.324899; -81.660873
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Jacksonville Landing shooting
The Jacksonville Landing in 2016
The Jacksonville Landing
The Jacksonville Landing
The Jacksonville Landing
The Jacksonville Landing
LocationJacksonville Landing, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
DateAugust 26, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-08-26)
c. 1:30 – 1:35 pm[1] (EDT)
Attack type
Mass shooting, murder-suicide
Weapons
Deaths3 (including the perpetrator)
Injured11 (10 by gunfire)[4][5]
PerpetratorDavid Katz[6]
MotiveUnconfirmed
External videos
video icon Video showing the game at the time the shooting occurred, with the shots audible - an MSNBC YouTube Video - (cable channel replays a video streamed on Twitch)

The Jacksonville Landing shooting, also known as the Jacksonville shooting,[6][7][8] was a mass shooting that occurred at a video game tournament for the video game Madden NFL 19 in Jacksonville Landing, Jacksonville, Florida, United States, on August 26, 2018, at about 1:30 pm (EDT). A lone gunman, David Katz, shot and killed two people and injured ten others before killing himself.[1][4]

Shooting

[edit]

The GLHF (Good Luck Have Fun) Game Bar, a video game venue in the Jacksonville Landing indoor marketplace, hosted a Madden NFL 19 video gaming tournament on August 26, 2018, with around 130 to 150 participants and onlookers.[9] After one of the participants, David Katz, lost a game, he refused to shake the hand of the winner and left the tournament. Soon after, he returned with one of the two handguns he had brought to the event.[10]

Katz fired 12 shots,[11] killing two people and wounding ten others, then committed suicide. One more sustained injuries while fleeing.[12][13][6] A tournament announcer said that he had been interviewing the first victim before the interviewee was fatally shot, and that he had been intentionally targeted. The gunman then turned and began shooting indiscriminately.[14]

Gunfire was first reported on social media at 1:34 pm EDT by tournament participants.[15][16] The event's Twitch stream recorded footage of the shooting, which was later uploaded to YouTube.[17]

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office urged individuals to stay away from the location at 2:13 pm EDT, and SWAT officers evacuated and searched the area.[18] First responders arrived on the scene within two minutes of the first 911 call, and arrived at 1:36 pm EDT.[19] The president of the firefighters union told reporters that they were training in the area when victims had run up to staff for help.[20] Due to the location being next to the St. Johns River, the Coast Guard was called in to sweep the surrounding waterways.[13]

Victims

[edit]

Fatalities

[edit]
  • Elijah Clayton, age 22, from Woodland Hills, California, was a professional gamer known by the aliases "True" and "Trueboy".[21][22] He had reportedly made a last-minute decision to attend the Jacksonville tournament.[23] A video circulating on social media after the shooting appeared to show a red dot on Clayton's chest from the laser sight on Katz's handgun.[21]
  • Taylor Robertson, age 27, from Ballard, West Virginia, was a professional gamer known by the alias "SpotMePlzzz".[24]

Non-fatal injuries

[edit]

Eleven people were taken to hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Some of the injured had been able to leave the bar and sought assistance from first responders.[25] Two others had driven themselves to the hospital.[4] Of those injured, ten individuals received gunshot wounds and one person was injured attempting to flee from the location.[25] The day after the incident Memorial Hospital released a statement that one individual had minor injuries, and three were in good condition, and UF Health announced that four victims had been released, with two still admitted.[26]

Perpetrator

[edit]

The shooter, David Katz, was a 24-year-old professional Madden player from Baltimore, Maryland, who had been attending the Jacksonville tournament as a participant.[27] Katz had lost a few rounds in the competition, which prevented him from reaching the finals. Fellow competitors reported that he had been "acting weird" and refused to shake hands with them after losing the competition.[28] His pseudonyms included "Bread", "mrslicedbread", "RavensChamp", "ravens2012champ" and "TREXHAVAHARTATAK".[29][30][31] He had previously won $10,000 in a 2017 Madden Tournament. Katz had a history of mental illness and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication.[32] He was diagnosed with dysthymia and oppositional disorder not otherwise specified and had been involuntarily committed to mental hospitals on numerous occasions.[33]

Investigation

[edit]

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office used Twitter to announce that there were fatalities at the scene at 2:45 pm EDT,[34] and that one suspect was dead at the scene at 2:53 pm EDT.[35] Initially, it was unknown whether there were additional gunmen,[13] but later, officials confirmed that there was only one suspect in the shooting.[36] He was armed with a .45 caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun, with the Sheriffs Office stating that one of the weapons was equipped with an aftermarket laser sight attached to the trigger guard.[10] The weapons had been stored in his vehicle, and purchased legally in Baltimore, Maryland.[16]

The Sheriff's Office issued an update at 7:37 pm EDT, indicating that the FBI were involved in the investigation, and that there was coordination with officers in the suspect's hometown of Baltimore. Police and federal agents visited a house in South Baltimore, which was identified as Katz's father's home.[27][37] They added that updates would be posted on their Twitter accounts.[4] Electronic Arts, which published Madden NFL 19 and had approved the competition, cooperated with the investigations.[4]

The Sheriff's Office reported that the incident is being investigated as a criminal act and not as an act of terrorism.[15]

Lawsuit

[edit]

As of August 30, 2018, at least one participant had filed a lawsuit[38] against the tournament sponsor Electronic Arts, the game manufacturer, the mall, and the restaurant where the incident occurred. The lawsuit claims "to hold those responsible accountable, and to ensure that gamers ... are able to get together to pursue their passion without having to fear for their lives".[39]

Response

[edit]

Participants and sponsors of participants took to social media to express safety, injuries, and recollections of the incident.[40] Electronic Arts (EA) released a statement saying its "most heartfelt sympathies" went out to the families of the victims and those who were injured and that its focus was on those affected and aiding law enforcement.[41] The publisher would later cancel the three remaining Madden Classic qualifier tournaments in order to reevaluate safety protocols for future live events.[42] EA further donated US$1 million as charity for the victims of the shooting and will set up a fund for others to be able to contribute.[43]

Organizers of several video game-based exhibitions, including PAX, Game Developers Conference, Insomnia Gaming Festival and Electronic Entertainment Expo, as well as other esports tournaments such as the League of Legends Championship Series and Evolution Championship Series (EVO) announced that they would take additional security measures at their upcoming events to protect the safety of their exhibitors and attendees in wake of the shooting.[44] The event has also raised concern about increasing security at other esports events in the future to levels similarly seen in other professional sporting events.[45]

The BBC initial coverage of the shooting compared it to other shootings in the state of Florida, including the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the killings of Christina Grimmie, Trayvon Martin, and XXXTentacion, and the Orlando nightclub shooting.[4] As the incident occurred 54 hours before the state polls closed in the gubernatorial primary elections, the political and gun law ramifications became political talking points.[7]

U.S. President Donald Trump contacted Florida Governor Rick Scott, offering federal assistance in response to the shooting.[46]

A 23-year-old Minnesota man who operated a Reddit account named "Ravenchamps" was subjected to a harassment campaign by QAnon and Trump supporters after far-right conspiracy theorist websites InfoWars and The Gateway Pundit, as well as far right commentator Mike Cernovich and Daily Caller contributor Ian Miles Cheong, misidentified him as the suspect and highlighted several anti-Trump statements made under his moniker. In response the owner made fun of the users of the QAnon-affiliated subreddit r/GreatAwakening, telling them "Y'all are seriously some bad researchers," and held an "Ask me Anything". He told The Washington Post that he did not receive any threats and that he was taking the campaign in stride. The Gateway Pundit subsequently posted a retraction to its article.[47][48][49]

On August 26, 2023, a man shot and killed three people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. Investigators stated they believed the date was chosen due to being the fifth anniversary of this shooting.[50]

Memorials and tributes

[edit]

Video game developer Bungie issued a statement that all its "Bungie and Destiny channels" would observe a day of silence in memory of the victims on August 27, 2018.[51] Bethesda, a major video game publisher, also issued its condolences, stating that it will "support efforts from the @EA family however [it] can."[52] OpTic Gaming announced shortly after that it will be holding a charity livestream on August 31, 2018, with all proceeds going towards the families of the victims.[53][54] GLHF also hosted a vigil in front of the restaurant doors, which was attended by hundreds of people.[55] Madden NFL 19 developer EA Sports released a statement the same day expressing its sympathies and stated that it was working with authorities to figure out what happened.[56]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Levenson, Eric; Stapleton, AnneClaire. "Two killed in shooting at Jacksonville video game tournament". CNN. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ https://i.imgur.com/tUg791Z_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium [bare URL image file]
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Florida shooting: Video gamer kills two at tournament". BBC News. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "Shooting at Jacksonville, Florida, gaming tournament leaves 3 dead, including gunman". CBS News. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Francis, Nathan (August 26, 2018). "David Katz Identified As Jacksonville Shooting Suspect, Report Claims He Opened Fire After Losing Game". Inquisitr.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Call, James (August 26, 2018). "Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidates blame GOP inaction for Jacksonville shooting". Tallahassee Democrat. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  8. ^ "Jacksonville Shooting: Suspect took his own life". BBC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  9. ^ Chen, Ashley Harding, Crystal (August 28, 2018). "Crime scene gives way to memorial as Jacksonville Landing set..." www.news4jax.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ a b Darrah, Nicole (August 27, 2018). "Jacksonville gaming tournament shooter had been hospitalized for mental illness, documents show". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  11. ^ Blinder, Alan; Mele, Christopher; Mazzei, Patricia (August 26, 2018). "Multiple Fatalities in Shooting at Jacksonville, Fla., Gaming Tournament, Police Say". The New York Times. No. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sheriff Mike Williams Speaks on Shooting At Jacksonville Landing". Facebook. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c Davidson, Tom (August 26, 2018). "Jacksonville shooting: Two killed after gamer opens fire during live-stream tournament 'before turning gun on himself'". Mirror. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  14. ^ Daraskevich, Joe (August 27, 2018). "Family of Jacksonville Landing shooting victim says void will never be filled". The Florida Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Lam, Katherine (August 26, 2018). "Gunman at Jacksonville Landing gaming event kills 2 before killing himself, investigators say". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Jacksonville Shooting: Victims were specifically targeted". 6abc Philadelphia. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  17. ^ Cranley, Ellen; Perper, Rosie; McLaughlin, Kelly (August 27, 2018). "3 dead, including gunman, after mass shooting at Madden video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  18. ^ Garza, Lisa Maria; Williams, Michael (August 26, 2018). "Suspect dead, 'multiple fatalities' in mass shooting at Jacksonville Landing: sheriff's office". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  19. ^ Miller, Susan; Rogers, Eric; Osborn, Dave; Kelly, Emre (August 27, 2018). "How the Jacksonville shooting unfolded: Terror inside a room, agony streamed online". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  20. ^ Patrick, Steve; Micolucci, Vic; Calloway, Ethan; Piggott, Jim; Tyler, Roxy (August 27, 2018). "Gunman among 3 dead in mass shooting at Jacksonville Landing". News4JAX. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  21. ^ a b Madan, Monique O.; Teproff, Carli (August 27, 2018). "Here are the victims of the Jacksonville mass shooting". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  22. ^ Reyes-Velarde, Alejandra; Panzar, Javier (August 27, 2018). "Jacksonville shooting victim Elijah Clayton was a skilled football player on the field and online". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  23. ^ Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (August 26, 2018). "Eli Clayton 'Trueboy': A Tribute to the Madden Shooting Victim". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
  24. ^ "Florida shooting: Video gamers killed by rival at tournament". BBC News. August 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
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  26. ^ "Hospital releases names of Jacksonville Landing shooting victims". WTLV. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Santiago, Ellyn; Cleary, Tom (August 26, 2018). "David Katz: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018. Katz has used the names Bread, mrslicedbread, ravenschamp, ravens2012champ and TREXHAVAHARTATAK in Madden competitions.
  28. ^ Luscombe, Richard; Quinn, Ben (August 27, 2018). "'No one deserves to die over a video game': survivors recall chaos of Florida shooting". the Guardian. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  29. ^ McBride, Jessica (August 27, 2018). "David Katz Was Acting Oddly at Madden Tourney: Witness". Heavy. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  30. ^ Grealish, Rachael (August 27, 2018). "Suicidal Shooter Murders Family Man and Rising Star". LADbible. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  31. ^ "'Madden NFL 19' Shots Fired During Livestream Tournament ... 3 Dead, Suspect Named". TMZ. August 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  32. ^ Riotta, Chris (August 27, 2018). "Florida shooting suspect had history of mental illness, court records show". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  33. ^ Amara, Kate (August 28, 2018). "Court documents shed new light on accused Jacksonville mass shooter". WBAL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  34. ^ "Jax Sheriff's Office on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  35. ^ Jax Sheriff's Office (August 26, 2018). "Jax Sheriff's Office on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  36. ^ Wagner, Meg (August 26, 2018). "Deadly shooting at video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida". CNN. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  37. ^ Darrah, Nicole (August 27, 2018). "FBI swarms family home of Jacksonville Landing gunman David Katz". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  38. ^ Mitich, Jacob (August 30, 2018). "Jacob Mitich v Electronic Arts, Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC, Property Management Support INC, Sleiman Enterprises INC, Chicago Pizza & Sports Grille II, INC, GLHF Esports Bar LLC, Allied Universal CORP, and Clifton Comastro" (PDF). In the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, in and for Duval County Florida: 1–49. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  39. ^ Haring, Bruce (August 31, 2018). "Madden NFL 19 Jacksonville Shootings – First Lawsuit Filed By Victim". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  40. ^ Lam, Katherine (August 26, 2018). "Jacksonville Landing mass shooting leaves 'multiple fatalities,' suspect dead: police". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  41. ^ "Mass Shooting At Madden Tournament In Jacksonville, FL - Game Informer". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  42. ^ Alexander, Julia (August 27, 2018). "EA cancels remaining Madden Classic qualifiers in wake of Jacksonville shooting". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  43. ^ Lawler, Richard (August 30, 2018). "EA donates $1 million to support victims of the shooting in Jacksonville". Engadget. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
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  47. ^ Collins, Ben (August 28, 2018). "Far-right media misidentifies Jacksonville shooter as Trump-bashing Reddit user". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  48. ^ Park, Gene (August 28, 2018). "'Y'all are seriously some bad researchers': Conspiracy theorists misidentify Reddit user as Madden shooter". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  49. ^ Lytvynenko, Jane (August 28, 2018). "His Reddit Account Was Falsely Connected To The Jacksonville Shooter. He Corrected The Record. Others Did Not". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  50. ^ Bynum, Russ; Spencer, Terry; Ahmed, Trisha (August 26, 2023). "A white man fatally shoots 3 Black people at a Florida store in a hate crime, then kills himself". AP News. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
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  53. ^ "OpTic Gaming™ on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
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  56. ^ Hladik, Matt (August 26, 2018). "EA Sports Releases Statement On Jacksonville Landing Madden Shooting". The Spun. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
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