By Colleen Knight
EBC Florida Bureau
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Eagle News Service) — A Sunday afternoon in the city of Jacksonville turned violent during an esports tournament when gunshots were fired at a pizza restaurant at the Jacksonville Landing.
According to Sheriff Mike Williams of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the suspect opened fire on the attendees of the qualifiers for the Madden ‘19 Tournament, killing two people, and injuring nine others before turning the handgun on himself.
The suspect, David Katz, 24, a native of Baltimore, Maryland appeared to use only one firearm. The Sheriff’s Department is still investigating whether the pistol had been acquired legally.
Marquis Williams, a native of Chicago, was at the tournament.
“I actually didn’t see his face, but he didn’t say anything to me that would warrant any kind of conversation or anything that was worrying for that matter,” Williams said about the shooter.
Williams was attending the tournament with his girlfriend, Taylor Poindexter, a participant who was one of the 2 injured when attendees “took off running”.
“The first shot we heard sounded like a balloon pop,” said Poindexter. “Then we heard the second, third, fourth shots. And then we actually caught a vague glance of the shooter. We didn’t get a facial, but we did see him have two hands on the gun, walking back, just popping rounds.”
Williams said that she met one of the unidentified victims for the first time yesterday and they had “a great conversation” and that he was a “great guy.” He also wanted to tell his fellow gamers, “We’re gonna be alright. The Madden community is gonna be alright.”
Lenny Curry, Mayor of Jacksonville, commented on the incident.
“One violent crime in our city is one too many,” said Curry. “Tonight, we pray for the wounded and we pray for the families of those lost.
“At terrible times, we see the best in people and today is no different”, said Curry.
The Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation with cooperation from authorities in Baltimore and will release the identities of the victims after informing the families. The suspect’s vehicle has been located and impounded and his local hotel room was located. The motive is not yet known. More details to follow.
(Eagle News Service)