This past Sunday was a dark day for esports and gaming in general when a Madden 19 esports tournament turned deadly. During a leg of the competition, a shooter opened fire upon players and spectators of the event, leaving a total of three people dead including the shooter himself and 11 people injured.
The shooting took place at Chicago Pizza restaurant in Jacksonville Landing in Florida as part of the Madden Championship Series. The incident was broadcast on Twitch, with video showing only a gameplay alert screen of a disconnected controller but audio capturing the entire shooting.
By the end, competitors Elijah “Trueboy” Clayton and Taylor “spotmeplzzz” Robertson were killed, while the shooter took his own life. Another nine people were taken to area hospitals by ambulance while two transported themselves to hospitals for treatment according to statements made by Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams. All of the injured are listed in stable condition, but the number of injured may change as details emerge.
The suspected shooter was David Katz, a 24-year-old white male from Baltimore, Maryland who was reportedly competing in the event and lost according to an eyewitness account shared by the LA Times. Baltimore ATF agents are currently working with the FBI to further investigate Katz according to the latest tweet from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
EA released a statement on its official Twitter account condemning the act. “The tragic situation that occurred Sunday in Jacksonville was a senseless act of violence,” reads part of the statement. “Our most heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the victims whose lives were taken today and those who were injured.”
Our Thoughts
There are not a lot of words we can share that will offer any solace to these events and, frankly, words are meaningless against the greater problems this act highlights. What we will say is that we offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by the events.
Related: Gaming, News, Video GamesRelated: eSports
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