Video game contestant shoots two dead, then himself after losing

A CONTESTANT at a video game tournament in Florida opened fire on his competitors, killing two before turning the gun on himself, it was claimed last night.

The gunman, named by police last night as 24-year-old David Katz from Baltimore, began his shooting spree after losing at the event yesterday at the GLHF Game Bar sports bar in Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Times reported. The competition was being live streamed when the “mass shooting” erupted with at least nine shots and screams clearly heard before the footage abruptly ended.

Steven Javaruski, one of the players, said he saw the gunman target a “few people”. Nine people suffered gunshot wounds in the incident, police said.

Sheriff Mike Williams said: “We have one suspect in this case. He is deceased at the scene.”

Earlier, police warned the public and media to stay away from Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront entertainment complex in the state capital. Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office warned on Twitter: “Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. Stay away. Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported. #Thelandingmassshooting.”

Drini Gjoka, a competitor at the Madden NFL gaming tournament, said he was shot in the thumb. He wrote on Twitter: “The tourney just got shot up. I’m leaving and never coming back. I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life. I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”

The incident comes after another shooting in the city on Friday night. One young man was killed and a teenage girl and boy were injured as they left an American football game.