By John Raoux, Terry Spencer and Trisha Ahmed, The Related Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A masked White man fatally shot three individuals inside a Jacksonville, Florida, Greenback Normal retailer in a predominantly Black neighborhood on Aug. 26 in a deliberate assault after abandoning racist writings, officers mentioned. The shooter then killed himself.
“He hated Black individuals,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.Okay. Waters instructed a information convention. “There may be completely no proof the shooter is a part of any bigger group.”
Waters mentioned the shooter, who was in his 20s, used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with at the very least one of many firearms painted with a swastika. He was carrying a bullet-resistant vest.
The 2 males and one lady who had been killed had been Black, Waters mentioned. Officers didn’t instantly launch the names of the victims or the shooter.
The sheriff mentioned the gunman had left behind writings that led investigators to imagine that he dedicated the taking pictures as a result of it was the fifth anniversary of when one other gunman opened fireplace throughout a online game match in Jacksonville, killing two individuals earlier than fatally taking pictures himself.
The taking pictures occurred simply earlier than 2 p.m. at a Greenback Normal about three-quarters of a mile from Edward Waters College, a small traditionally Black college. Sheriff Waters mentioned the suspect was seen on campus shortly earlier than the taking pictures, placing on his vest and a masks.
“I can’t let you know what his mindset was whereas he was there, however he did go there,” the sheriff mentioned.
Edward Waters College college students had been being stored of their dorms, the varsity mentioned in an announcement. No college students or college are believed concerned, the varsity mentioned.
The shooter had pushed to Jacksonville from neighboring Clay County. Shortly earlier than the assault, the shooter had despatched his father a textual content message telling him to examine his pc. The daddy discovered the writings and the household notified 911, however the taking pictures had already begun, Sheriff Waters mentioned.
“This can be a darkish day in Jacksonville’s historical past. There isn’t a place for hate on this group,” the sheriff mentioned. “I’m sickened by this cowardly shooter’s private ideology.” He mentioned the investigation will proceed and that the shooter’s house is being searched.
Mayor Donna Deegan mentioned she is “heartbroken.”
“This can be a group that has suffered repeatedly. So many instances that is the place we find yourself,” Deegan mentioned. “That is one thing that ought to not and should not proceed to occur in our group.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis, after talking by telephone with the sheriff, referred to as the shooter a “scumbag” and denounced his racist motivation.
“This man killed himself quite than face the music and settle for accountability for his actions. He took the coward’s method out,” mentioned DeSantis, who was in Iowa campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination.
Each President Joe Biden and Lawyer Normal Merrick Garland had been briefed on the taking pictures, officers mentioned.
Penny Jones instructed The Related Press that she labored on the retailer, positioned a couple of blocks away from her house, till a couple of months in the past.
“I’m simply ready to listen to about my co-workers that I used to work with,” Jones mentioned. “I don’t know if it’s secure to maneuver in regards to the neighborhood.”
Jones added that she was “feeling awkward, scared.”
“I don’t wish to go away my home. I’m considering, do I wish to return to the shop? Is that this going to start out taking place extra ceaselessly? I don’t know what the reason for it’s. I’m confused. It’s quite a lot of totally different emotions occurring proper now,” she mentioned.
The lethal taking pictures passed off inside hours of the conclusion of a commemorative March on Washington within the nation’s capital, the place organizers drew consideration to the rising menace of hate-motivated violence in opposition to individuals of colour.
The assault on a shopping mall in a predominantly Black neighborhood will undoubtedly evoke fears of previous shootings focusing on Black Individuals, just like the one at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store in 2022, and one at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
The Buffalo grocery store taking pictures, specifically, stands aside as one of many deadliest focused assaults on Black individuals by a White lone gunman in U.S. historical past. Ten individuals had been killed by the gunman, who has been sentenced to life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
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Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ahmed reported from St. Paul, Minnesota. Related Press writers Aaron Morrison in New York and Mike Balsamo in Washington contributed.
