A shooting has occurred at a Madden NFL 19 tournament in Jacksonville, Florida today, with multiple fatalities confirmed. Videos on social media reveal harrowing scenes from the event, where attendees had gathered to play EA Sports’ latest American football game. The Jacksonville County Sherriff’s Office confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries. Police also said that the suspect was dead at the scene.
The event at the Jacksonville Landing entertainment complex was part of the first of four qualifier events for the Madden Classic series, and was being streamed online. One of the top competitors, Drini Gjoka, tweeted that he was shot in the thumb. “I’m leaving and never coming back,” he wrote. “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”
Update (22:30 BST): EA Sports has released a short statement on Twitter:
[source bbc.co.uk, via twitter.com, twitter.com]
Comments 40
A reminder to keep the comments clean and respectful please. Thank you.
My Prayers go out to the families and victims. I just don’t know what’s wrong with this world anymore stuff like this never would have happened decades ago so I just don’t know what’s caused it to be so common place now. If someone wants to kill themselves that’s fine I might not agree with it but it’s that persons life but when you’re killing yourself and taking innocent people that have families,gf/bf’s etc that’s when I lose any kind of understanding for you and just want to tell you what a despicable and horrible chicken you are.
Language. Also, while I fully understand the anger here, please can we try to keep the comments calm, clean, and respectful. There's a time and a place, and this isn't it. - get2sammyb
@dark_knightmare2 Let's also remember to watch the language to please.
That goes for everyone too.
Damn this hits home I live in Orlando = ( . Prayers for everyone.
Thoughts to those involved and there loved ones
Man that Twitch stream was scary af to listen to.
I rarely get shivers but man I got shivers from those screams and shots.
What a shame.
Wow, so sad :/ people enjoying a videogame and just having a fun sunday and then an idiot decides to murder everyone he can...how can people have guns ready so easily?
This is just horrible, utterly horrible. I'm not going into speculation territory regarding the victims or suspect because it's none of my business and frankly the mainstream media will do that for all it's worth. So all I can say to my fellow commenters and PS staff is remember who your loved ones are and look out for each other.
@Ralizah 🤝👍
I have no words for something like this, I never really do.
This is becoming disturbingly all too common these days..
My thoughts go out to all those involved.
Dumbfounded...
...as usual. And that's the real sickening problem; the fact that we're all used to feeling like this whenever these tragic events happen. It should be a one-time shock, a lesson learned, but it's not.
But that's tomorrow's wider conversation. Right now, in the immediate, I just hope everybody involved in this situation is safe. My thoughts tonight are of speedy recoveries, for both the physical and mental injuries that have been inflicted on innocent people today.
And all my very best to the staff, community members and readers of Push Square. Because that's always worth saying.
Watched the video from the livestream, you can see the laser of the gun in the guy's shirt and then you hear everyone screaming...it's horrible! Don't watch if you get shocked easily
That’s terrible. The world’s getting crazy again.
Terrible and very sad to hear about this. My prayers go out.
Ok guys this is not the place to discuss politics, gun rights, NRA how bad America is etc. If you want to discuss laws, gun rights etc there is other places on the web to do so. Let's keep the comments to the victims and families.
Thanks for understanding
@DLB3 My apologies. I wouldn't have said anything if I'd known your comment was going to be deleted.
@DLB3 I wasn't lol, and yeah I see little point in shutting down a friendly discussion, particularly when some of the other comments that were left alone are politically charged as well, but oh well.
Thoughts and prayers go out to all those effected by this. There's gotta a larger, serious discussion held here in the states by politicians and the public that's more than just two sides screeching at each other without any real work being done. This is happening far too often.
r.i.p. to everyone that pass away.sad day indeed.cowards pull out a gun shooting people for no reason.its crazy.word up son
Why my comment got deleted u guys are way too sensitive 😒
@GKO900 Mine got deleted too and was in no way disrespectful. This is happening way too much in my country...
@jFug I know right
It’s a sad time for sure. And I feel for the Pushsquare staff that have to moderate the comments. It had to be difficult to decide even whether to report the incident here at all. But considering the event it took place at, very understandable. I’m sure all of us are angry and saddened by what’s happened. I know I am.
I hope I can say - I want things to change to help prevent this from happening again in the future. I hope that’s not too political. If it is, I understand the need to delete. Thank you Pushsquare for even hosting this “forum” for us to comment in. Reading others comments about how they too are upset helps me believe there may be hope in our future. Thank you.
It's one thing to report on this because it was in at a among event so we can't totally ignore it. But the political side doesn't not need to addressed after all this isn't a political website.
Stuff like "well this is America get use to it" or discussion about how the NRA is a bad guys here or discussion about gun control etc. Political discussions like that really has no place here on a gaming website. Plain and simple. Nowhere in the article does it mention NRA, gun laws etc. I understand we are mad, and want to blame someone but this is not the place for it
Thanks for understanding
Yeah, the community rules clearly stated not to go where we did. You bunch weren’t hostile, but it still wasn’t the right place. (I edited mine a little since it had a bit of the stuff it shouldn’t have.) It’s worth reporting on, but we shouldn’t talk about America and gun control here regardless of your stance on it.
Sad that even video game events aren't safe. Sigh...
@LaNooch1978 First of all, I never wrote an article with swearing in a title. Second I am not the one who made the rules. However when you created an account here and participate here you agree to said rules. It not like you can pick and choose which rules you are going to follow. If you can't deal with that then I am sure there are other places that you can go that you can agree with the rules. Just a thought
@Kidfried You're right I amended my post, I am sorry about that. My wording was chosen poorly.
And with that said let's keep this comment section on track now. The article at hand is not about the site's policies and such. If you have anymore concerns please use the contact form below.
Thanks for understanding
@Tasuki No need to apologise. I know you mean well and do your best moderating, and it's (luckily) not usual to get these kind of news items on this site, so everyone might be more on edge than usual. I hope you know I meant no offense to you in any way. I have deleted my previous post and feel free to delete this one if you feel it distracts from the topic.
@LaNooch1978 I am not a native English speaker, so these kind of mistakes probably happen all the time. In the language I grew up with 'teach' and 'learn' are the same word. Thanks for helping me improve my writing.
It is weird how these tragedies hit home that little bit more when you feel some connection, it being related to gaming. Thoughts out to all families and those involved.
@Jaz007 "The worlds getting crazy again"
let's be honest, it always has been crazy, for some reason as a species we can't stop hurting each other
"Humans, one of the few predatory species who preys even upon itself"
For the a full report the guy that did apparently was a very isolated man and the photos of him he really looks like he's isolated, thoughts go out to the family's
@LaNooch1978 Out of respect for the victims, I'll continue our conversation on the forums.
This is such a strange world.
It’s a very sad and mad world. My prayers go out to all involved and families of the victims. This is a horrible tragedy.
Never good news to see this. Thoughts and prayers to all affected. I hope everyone in Florida can stay safe.
As a Society, we fail more often. Politics, god or the law can't be the solution, neither of which will prevent stuff like this happening.
Therefore I hope that maybe in the future, we realize, that WE are in charge. It starts how we treat each other and ends with the world we build for ourselves.
Events like this, make me sad.
Why. Why do people do this? How miserable do you have to be to decide to do something like this to people you don't know, will never know and they were just there trying to enjoy themselves. I just. Every time I hear this mess my faith in humanity shrinks an little more.
Tap here to load 40 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...