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Mass Shooting Reported at Madden Video Game Tournament in Florida (polygon.com)

Multiple people on live streams and social media reported a mass shooting at a Madden NFL 19 tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, this morning. The Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office confirmed that law enforcement was en route to the scene but had no further information early this afternoon. From a report: In the video, two competitors are playing when someone starts screaming off camera. As the first of nine shots break out, they abandon their stations and others are heard fleeing. Then a man is heard crying out, "What did he shoot me with?" Three more shots are fired and screaming can be heard. This weekend at Jacksonville Landing downtown was the first of four qualifier events for the Madden Classic series sponsored by EA Sports. CNN: "Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported. #TheLandingMassShooting," according to Jacksonville Sheriff's twitter page, which urged people to "stay far away from the area" as the area is not safe at this time. "One suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted," according to another tweet from the sheriff's office In a statement issued moments ago, EA Sports Madden NFL said, "This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved."

Top competitor Drini Gjoka, who was at the event and reported the terrifying scene, said, "The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back. 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.

Update: LA Times reports that the shooter was a gamer who was competing in the tournament and lost, according to Steven "Steveyj" Javaruski, one of the competitors.

2 of 1,293 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Seriously, America. by rfengr · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    We need more mass run-overings, to bring us in line with Europe.

  2. Easier than a wall by raymorris · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    > Also, there seems to be a problem with Florida. Maybe we should build a wall around there?

    Agreed there seems to be a problem with Florida.
    Florida MIGHT be second place to California for being weird and fucked up in all sorts of ways.

    I have to disagree on the wall, thing though, only because there is a more effective and less-costly option. I have it on good authority that California and Florida will be underwater by 2020 if we do nothing at all. The way that statement was phrased, I think it was supposed to be scary, but it seems alright to me.