In a horrifying incident on Saturday, a masked gunman opened fire in a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, resulting in the tragic death of three individuals.
The assailant, who later committed suicide, left behind writings that were racially charged, as reported by the Associated Press.
The shooter, a man in his twenties, was armed with a Glock handgun and an AR-15, one of which bore a swastika. Eyewitness accounts also noted that he was clad in a bullet-resistant vest. The identities of the victims and the shooter have not been released by the authorities.
The sheriff disclosed that the shooter left behind written material that hinted at his motivations for the attack. The shooting took place just before 2 p.m. at a Dollar General store, situated less than a mile from Edward Waters University, a historically Black institution. The sheriff noted that the suspect was spotted on the university campus prior to the shooting, outfitted in his vest and mask.
The sheriff stated, "I cant tell you what his mindset was while he was there, but he did go there."
The university confirmed that students were kept within their dormitories during the incident. It was clarified that neither students nor faculty were suspected to be involved in the incident.
The shooter, who had traveled to Jacksonville from neighboring Clay County, sent a text to his father just before the attack, instructing him to check his computer. Upon discovering the writings, the father immediately alerted 911. Unfortunately, the shooting had already begun by then, according to the sheriff.
Sheriff Waters commented, "This is a dark day in Jacksonvilles history. There is no place for hate in this community. I am sickened by this cowardly shooters personal ideology."
Mayor Donna Deegan expressed her grief over the incident, describing it as "hate-filled."
Governor Ron DeSantis, after a discussion with the sheriff, denounced the shooter's racist motivations, referring to him as a "scumbag."
While campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in Iowa, DeSantis stated, "This guy killed himself rather than face the music and accept responsibility for his actions. He took the cowards way out." The FBI has since taken over the investigation, treating the incident as a hate crime.
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