Tragedy struck today at a Madden 19 Tournament in Jacksonville Florida. The GLHF game bar and grill was playing host to the Southeastern Qualifier for the Madden NFL Championship Series today. The tournament was into its second day today. During a game, the stream picked up the sounds of gunfire and shouting.
WARNING: This video contains audio and language that some will find distressing. Please watch at your own discretion.
https://youtu.be/VzfK-ir1Zt8
Shortly after 1:30 PM Drini Gjoka, a player for the team compLexity Gaming tweeted, “The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back.”
The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back
— Drini (@Drini) August 26, 2018
The Jacksonville Sheriffs office confirmed the shooting in a tweet saying,
Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY #TheLandingMassShooting
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018
The twitter account continued to urge people to stay away from the area while updating the public on the situation.
We can’t stress enough to stay away. Many blocks away. https://t.co/qBJvkaO7xT
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018
While specific details are still sparse, the Sheriff’s Office did confirm some facts via twitter.
Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported. #TheLandingMassShooting https://t.co/qBJvkaO7xT
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018
One suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted. https://t.co/qBJvkaO7xT
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018
compLexity Gaming later tweeted an update on the status of their player Gjoka.
An update from the Jacksonville Madden event:
There appears to have been a shooting at the event, and @YoungDrini was grazed in the hand. He is away from the scene and safe.
— Complexity ✭ (@Complexity) August 26, 2018
In a brief statement moments ago a member of the Jacksonville Sheriffs office confirmed that there were no outstanding suspects and that the Jacksonville Landing had been cleared. He urged people to stay away.
EA has commented on the tragic events via Twitter.
We are aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville. We are working with authorities to gather facts at this stage.
— Electronic Arts (@EA) August 26, 2018
The Jacksonville PD has updated their statement and has confirmed that one shooter as involved. A competitor at the gaming event that had lost a game previously and returned with a gun, in order to shoot the person who beat him. The shooter’s name has not been given as of yet. As mentioned previously, a total of 3 people have been killed. Two innocents and the shooter, who turned the gun on himself afterward. There are still a number of victims that have not been accounted for as of yet, but the total count
It has been confirmed that Madden esports pro players Eli ‘Trueboy’ Clayton, 21 and Taylor ‘SpotMePlzzz’ Robertson, 19, were killed in this senseless act of cowardice.
Sadly, this tragic event only reinforces the cold fact that the gun laws in the United States are lacking. The rise of mass shootings has risen each year, for the past several years. So far, we’ve seen over 200 different cases this year and that’s far too many. Too many people are losing their loved ones for silly reasons. Yet we can’t come to a resolution on how to handle gun control in our country. Today adds just another tragic event, but you have to wonder if this will help spark the debates on getting this issue under control. I for one can only hope that it does.
The Outerhaven sends its prayers to the victims and families involved in this massacre. We hope that you join us and pray for those who are no hurting, more than we could even know.
