Four killed at video gaming tournament as ‘player upset at losing goes on gun rampage’
AT LEAST four people were feared dead last night after a gunman opened fire at a video game tournament in the US.
The shooting in a shopping centre in Jacksonville, Florida, took place yesterday afternoon as gamers competed in an American Football match.
Last night there were unconfirmed reports the gunman had been competing in the tournament and opened fire because he was upset at being knocked out.
Thousands of fans watching the competition online heard the first gunshots before the live feed was turned off.
The shooting happened in a game room in Chicago Pizza at the Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront dining and shopping centre in the city centre.
Police sources told local reporters that the gunman had shot himself dead. They said four people had died, with at least 11 others injured.
Jacksonville sheriff Mike Williams confirmed the suspect was a white man. Officers are still trying to identify him.
Earlier, the sheriff’s office wrote on Twitter: ‘Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time.’
In another post, the office said: ‘Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported.’
As SWAT teams searched the area they discovered several people hiding in locked areas in the shopping centre.
Twitter users claiming to have witnessed the shooting spoke of their shock on social media.
One gamer, Drini Gjoka, posted: ‘I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.’
Online viewers claimed that in the live footage in the moments leading up to the shooting, they could see a laser sight hovering over the chest of one of the gamers. The New York Post named the two boys pictured during the game as Eli ‘Trueboy’ Clayton and Joe Rice. Their condition is unknown.
Gamer Timothy Anselimo is believed to have been shot three times. His mother, Sujeil Lopez, told the New York Times: ‘I have to get to him. I am four hours away from him and I have to get to my son. He was shot three times. Please keep him in your prayers.’
Amateur and professional gamers were taking part in the regional qualifying rounds of a Madden NFL 19 tournament, where teams compete in American Football matches on the Xbox One. The two highest-performing teams would have progressed to the final of the Madden Classic in Las Vegas in October, where the winners will receive a share of £19,466 in prize money.
Dozens of police cars were seen outside the Jacksonville Landing, while the streets surrounding the shopping centre were cordoned off.
Those who had fled the shooting were pictured hugging outside, while paramedics were seen tending to the wounded.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital said three patients had been admitted and were in a ‘stable condition’. Another hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, said it had admitted six others, one of whom was in a serious condition.
The White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed and was monitoring the situation.
‘Please keep him in your prayers’