In Jacksonville, Florida, there was a shooting during an eSports tournament for NFL Madden 19. Three people are reported to have been shot, including the shooter himself.
What happened? In a shopping mall in Jacksonville, the first of four qualifying tournaments for the Madden Classic Series took place. During the ongoing event, someone opened fire. The US site Polygon reports this.
There are tweets and streams from the event that allow disturbing noises to be heard directly from the scene. The image of the stream then goes away as the casters secure themselves, but the horrific sounds of gunshots can be heard.
Someone asks in disbelief: “What was he shooting at me with?”
Warning: The sounds that can be heard are disturbing. Anyone who still wants to listen can here find a tweet showing what happened in Jacksonville.
The victims: According to preliminary reports, four people were shot, and at least ten others were reported injured. A local reporter from WJXT-TV reports this.
The shooter reportedly participated in the tournament and lost
The alleged perpetrator reportedly shot himself: A reporter from the Los Angeles Times, Matt Pearce, reports: The shooter was allegedly a player in the Madden tournament who lost.
After shooting, he killed himself.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department also reports that a suspicious person is dead at the scene. It is currently unknown whether there is a second suspect.
As the agency further reports, some people are still hiding in the building. Participants are urged to remain calm while a SWAT team sweeps the building.
eSports player reports: A well-known eSports player and event participant is Drini Gjoka. He represents compLexity Gaming. He described the horrific scene on Twitter. He said a bullet hit him in the thumb.
His team later announced that Gjoka is doing well. He was able to escape to a nearby gym. He is currently cooperating with the authorities. He will be flown out of Jacksonville as soon as circumstances allow.
This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved.
— Electronic Arts (@EA) August 26, 2018
EA expresses condolences: In an initial statement, the developers of Madden 19, Electronic Arts, expressed their deepest sympathy for everyone involved in the situation. Electronic Arts supported the tournament in Jacksonville.
Sheriff’s office confirms: 3 dead, including the shooter
Update: In a press conference, the sheriff’s office announced:
- The shooter was 24-year-old David “Bread” Katz from Baltimore. Katz was a participant in the tournament. He shot himself.
- Three people were killed in the shooting (including Katz) and nine others are being treated for gunshot wounds in local hospitals. All the injured are stable.
Katz qualified for the tournament in Jacksonville by winning the Madden Championship for the Buffalo Bills in February 2017.
