Sheriff: Three dead, including gunman in Jacksonville shooting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says three people were killed, including the gunman, during a mass shooting at a video game tournament at a north Florida mall.

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Sheriff Mike Williams said Sunday evening he believed the shooter is 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore. He said the FBI was searching the man's home as part of the investigation.

Williams said nine other people were wounded by gunfire and are in stable condition and two others were hurt while fleeing the shots. He says the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

William said Katz committed the shooting with a single handgun. He said Katz was in Jacksonville for the "Madden NFL 19" video game tournament, at Jacksonville Landing, in the heart of the city's downtown. The games maker, EA Sports, lists a David Katz as a 2017 championship winner.

The video competition was held in a gaming bar that shares space with a pizzeria. Viewers could watch the games online and see the players.  

Investigators were looking into online video that appeared to capture the scene right before the shooting began, Williams said.

A red dot that appears to be a laser pointer is visible on the chest of a player seconds before the first of a dozen gunshots rings out.

Jason Lake, the founder and CEO of compLexity, a company that owns professional e-sports teams, said on Twitter that one of his players, 19-year-old Drini Gjoka, was shot in the thumb.

Gjoka tweeted: "The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back." Then: "I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life."

Marquis Williams, 28, and his girlfriend, Taylor Poindexter, 26, both from Chicago, were ordering pizza at the bar when they heard the gunfire. Williams said people trampled each other trying to get away.

"Initially we thought it was a balloon popping, but there weren't any balloons in the room. Then we heard repeat shots and we took off running," said Williams, who participated in the tournament earlier.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office used Twitter and Facebook to warn people to stay away from the Jacksonville Landing.

The department says to "stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY."

In a presser held by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, authorities confirmed that they have finished clearing the landing and that there are no outstanding suspects.

The sheriff's office also warned news media to stay away from the area, which contains restaurants and shops along the St. Johns River.

Many people were found hidden in locked areas at The Landing. The Sheriff's Office asked people to stay calm and stay where there were at during that time.

Florida Governor Rick Scott says that he has offered the Sheriff's Office any state resources he may need. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is responding.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump was briefed on the attack and the White House was monitoring the situation.

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Some information from the Associated Press (AP)