FBI says it has opened up a hate crime investigation after three Black people were killed in Dollar General on Kings Road.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — *WARNING: This report contains language some may find offensive
Four people are dead after being shot Saturday at Dollar General on Kings Road. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the shooting was racially motivated. The shooter, a White male from Clay County who has not yet been identified, turned the gun on himself after killing the three Black people in the store, Waters said.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office called JSO at 11:39 a.m. letting them know the shooter was en route to Jacksonville, Water said. At 1:18 p.m., the shooter called his father and told him to check his computer. The suspect’s family called the Clay County Sheriff’s at 1:53 p.m., Water said.
It was too late. The suspect had already walked into the store at 2161 Kings Road just after armed and wearing a tactical vest, Waters said at a 6:30 p.m. news conference Saturday. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, who also attended the news conference said the shooter’s rifle had swastikas on it.
“He wanted to kill niggers,” Waters said adding that he wants the community to know exactly what happened.
The names of the victims have not been released. Waters said they are two males and one female.
Waters said the shooter was
UPDATE: Multiple people are dead following a shooting at a Dollar Tree on Kings Road in Jacksonville, according to Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman.
Law enforcement sources have told First Coast News, On Your Side that at least four are dead.
Mayor Donna Deegan and State Rep. Angie Nixon were also on the scene. “It’s a heartbreaking this for our community,” Deegan said. “It’s awful and it has happened in this community way too many times.”
Deegan and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters have scheduled a media briefing. *Bookmark this link to watch live
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For much of the afternoon, there has been a heavy police presence located near King Road and North Canal Street on Jacksonville’s Westside.
Edward Waters University issued a “campus-wide stay in place order” for students.
“Students are being kept in their residence halls through the afternoon until the scene is cleared,” the school wrote on Facebook.
The police scene includes over 10 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police cars, a helicopter in the air and JFRD personnel are present.
In addition, around 1:57 p.m., a SWAT truck has arrived on scene and SWAT officers are walking around with their guns drawn.
Saturday’s mass shooting comes five years to the day four people were killed in a mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing.
Please avoid the area if possible.
