Gunman Opens Fire During Madden Tournament Resulting in Multiple Fatalities

August 26, 2018 National News

Shots were fired during a Madden 19 Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sunday, Florida authorities said.

“Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet. “STAY AWAY.”

The preliminary reports state that 11 people were shot and 4 were killed. “One suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to CNN, three patients involved in the shooting have been transported to Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. Hospital spokesman Pete Moberg told CNN that all three patients are in stable condition.

The tournament was held at a GLHF Game Bar located in Jacksonville Landing, and the event was being broadcasted through a live stream on Twitch when the shooting took place. The audio feed was interrupted by the sound of several gunshots shortly after 1:30 p.m.

One Twitter user, Kyrie Curry, shared a clip on Twitter that showed players disconnecting from the game as gunshots can be heard in the background.

Another Twitter user who was a part of the tournament, Drini Gjoka, was shot in the thumb.

“I am literally so lucky,” Gjoka tweeted. “The bullet hit my thumb.”

The sheriff’s office said that “many people” were found hiding in locked areas at The Landing. “We ask you to stay calm, stay where you are hiding,” the sheriff’s office said. “SWAT is doing a methodical search inside The Landing. We will get to you. Please don’t come running out.”

Electronic Arts, the company who developed the Madden game, tweeted that the company is aware of the situation. “We are aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville,” EA wrote. “We are working with authorities to gather facts at this stage.”

President Trump has also been briefed on the shooting, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

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Arianna is College Media Network's Weekend Editor and a student at Penn State University. She has written for various websites, including Thought Catalog and The Odyssey Online. Arianna also runs her own blog called Yoga With Mimosas in which she combines her passion for fitness and writing in hopes of inspiring and empowering others through her work.

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