Multiple fatalities reported after a shooting at a Madden esports event in Florida
Chaos erupted at an esports tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday when a mass shooting ended with multiple fatalities and many more injured.
Word of the shooting first emerged on Twitch, from a live feed of the Madden NFL 19 Classic qualifier at Jacksonville's GLHF Game Bar. In the disturbing audio-only account, rapid bursts of gunfire are heard multiple times over the shouts of attendees.
Jacksonville police confirmed on Sunday evening that there were three fatalities, one of which was the gunman, who took his own life. Nine others were injured in the attack, police confirmed (h/t CNN).
Police have only confirmed that the gunman is a white male, though eyewitness accounts have filled in other details. Steven "SteveyJ" Javaruski, a pro Madden player who was participating in the event and witnessed the shooting, told the Los Angeles Times that the gunman was a competitor who had lost.
A number of tournament participants have taken to Twitter in the hours since the shooting to speak out about what happened.
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Reached for comment, Madden publisher Electronic Arts shared the following statement with Mashable:
The tragic situation that occurred Sunday in Jacksonville was a senseless act of violence that we strongly condemn. Our most heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the victims whose lives were taken today and those who were injured. All of us at Electronic Arts are devastated by this horrific event, and we also join the community in thanking the first responders who were quickly on the scene. Our focus right now is on those affected, and supporting law enforcement as they continue their investigation into this crime.
Local news notes that Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams will be addressing the situation in a press conference later on Sunday. We'll update this story as more details emerge.
UPDATED Aug. 26, 2018 5:00 p.m. ET with additional details from Jacksonville police and social media.
UPDATED Aug. 26, 2018 8:01 p.m. ET with additional details from local police.
UPDATED Aug. 27, 2018 7:37 a.m. ET with a more detailed statement from Electronic Arts.
Topics Gaming
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
