A mass shooting during a video game tournament at a waterfront mall in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday left three people dead including the shooter and several people injured, ABC News reported.
Earlier news reports had said there were four fatalities, but that figure was later corrected.
The local sheriff’s office reported the suspect was dead at the scene at the riverfront Jacksonville Landing. ABC said “at least 11 people” were wounded in the shooting.
Authorities took to social media Sunday, warning people to stay away from the scene:
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 GLHF Game Bar was hosting the Madden 19 video game tournament at a popular waterfront entertainment complex.
The Landing, is an open-air marketplace with stores, bars and restaurants in downtown Jacksonville along the St. Johns River, was the venue where the event – a qualifier for the Madden NFL Championship Series for Madden NFL 18 – was being held.
CNN cited an online stream of the Madden event posted to the website Twitch, during which several gunshots could be heard. The stream did not show the shooting.
At a press conference late Sunday, Sheriff Michael Williams said officials were working to confirm the identity of the shooter, who was described as a white male. He was later identified as David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, Maryland a gamer who had taken part in the Madden tournament and lost.
CBS News reported that he died of a self-inflicted gun shot, and that a single handgun was used in the shooting.
Ryan Alemon, who came from Texas to participate in the gaming tournament, told CNN he ducked down and ran toward the restroom when he heard the gunshots. “I’m still shocked, I can hardly talk,” he said.
The local sheriff’s office said other people also found places to hide when the shooting started and issued instruction for people to shelter in place and remain calm.
“Malik Brunson told CNN he was at a nearby Hooters restaurant when the shooting occurred.
“All I heard was he got a gun and the shooting started. One of the man ran into Hooters with the shot wounds, they locked us in the restaurant,” he said in a social media message.
In addition to local law enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responding to the shooting scene, according to CNN.
This story has been updated.