A white man armed with a high-powered rifle and a handgun killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, before shooting himself.
The suspect, whom Waters described as a white male wearing a tactical vest, was not identified. Waters said all three victims – two men and a woman – were Black.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told a press conference,
This shooting was racially motivated, and he hated Black people.
The hate that motivated the shooter’s killing spree adds an additional layer of heartbreak.”
Waters described his weapons as a Glock and an “AR-15 style” rifle, with swastikas on it, referring to a lightweight semi-automatic long gun often used in mass shootings.
He said the shooter was spotted at a local historically Black college, Edward Waters University, where he put on his vest and a mask before going to the local branch of the Dollar General.
Sherri Onks, special agent in charge of the Jacksonville FBI office, said federal officials had opened a civil rights investigation and would pursue the incident as a hate crime.
If you are gay, trans, Black, Asian… Florida (and much of this country) is NOT safe with the GOP front runner spewing hatred daily.
Jill and I are praying for the victims, their families, and the people of Jacksonville following yesterday’s shooting.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 27, 2023
As we continue searching for answers, we must say clearly and forcefully that white supremacy has no place in America.
Here’s my full statement. pic.twitter.com/tdxxnZnPGk
(Photo, YouTube; via Reuters)
