White shooter kills 3 Black people in Florida hate crime as Washington celebrates King’s dream

A white gunman killed three Black individuals in a Dollar General store in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. The incident is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime.

Two men and one woman, all Black, were fatally shot in the incident. The identities of the victims have not been officially released.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters stated that the shooting was “racially motivated.” The FBI is assisting with the ongoing inquiry and has opened a hate crime investigation.

The gunman used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. He also wore a bullet-resistant vest during the attack.

Yes, according to Sheriff T.K. Waters, the shooter acted alone and was not part of any organized group.

The shooter sent written statements to federal law enforcement and at least one media outlet shortly before the attack, suggesting a racial motive.

The community is in mourning and shock. Mayor Donna Deegan expressed that such events “should not and must not continue to happen” in Jacksonville.

The incident occurred on the same day as the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, highlighting the ongoing struggles with racial inequality in the United States.

This event occurred a day before the 63rd anniversary of Jacksonville’s infamous “Ax Handle Saturday,” when members of the Ku Klux Klan attacked Black protesters. The recent shooting underscores Jacksonville’s long-standing issues with racial violence.

The gunman killed himself at the scene and is the sole suspect in the investigation. His identity has not been officially confirmed.