On August 26, 2023, three people were fatally shot by a gunman in a mass shooting at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Authorities identified 21-year-old male Ryan Christopher Palmeter as the gunman.[3][4][5][6] Palmeter shot and killed himself after he barricaded himself in an office.[2][7] The incident has been described as a terrorist attack,[8][9] was racially motivated,[10] and is currently under investigation as a hate crime.[11][12]
| 2023 Jacksonville shooting | |
|---|---|
 The Dollar General store photographed in 2020 | |
 | |
| Location | 2161 Kings Road, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 30°20′57″N 81°41′46″W / 30.34917°N 81.69611°W |
| Date | August 26, 2023 1:08 – 1:19 p.m.[1] (EDT; UTC−04:00) |
| Target | African Americans |
Attack type | Triple-murder, murder suicide, mass shooting, domestic terrorism, hate crime |
| Weapons | |
| Deaths | 4 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Ryan Christopher Palmeter |
| Motive | Right-wing terrorism Racism against black people |
Shooting
editAccording to police, by 11:39 a.m., Palmeter left his home in Clay County, Florida.[4][10][6] At 12:48 p.m., he arrived at Edward Waters University and released a TikTok video of him putting on a tactical vest.[13] At 12:55 p.m., campus security arrived at his location and asked for identification. Palmeter failed to identify himself and left the parking lot at 12:57 p.m.; he was shadowed by a campus security officer who was leaving at 12:58 p.m.[10][13] Before 1:08 p.m., the campus officer flagged down a police officer who then started processing a BOLO alert.[14][13]
At 1:08 p.m Palmeter shot 11 rounds into the front windshield of a car outside the Dollar General store, killing the driver. The gunfire triggered a nearby ShotSpotter device.[15][16][13] He then entered the store and killed another victim.[13] Palmeter wore a tactical vest, a face covering, blue rubber gloves, and ear protection during the shooting.[10][16] Multiple people fled through the store's rear exit, with Palmeter exiting the same door shortly after.[13] At 1:09 p.m., a one-round ShotSpotter alert went off, followed by Palmeter reentering the store through the rear door and attempting to shoot a security camera but missing. At that time, the first 911 voice call was received. At 1:10 p.m., two more customers entered the store through the front door. At 1:13 p.m., Palmeter killed one of them, then chased the other person around the store, shooting at her but missing. The victim being chased was able to exit through the rear door, with Palmeter following after her, shooting out the same door, and then reentering the building.[13]
At 1:14 p.m., Palmeter entered an office; four minutes later, he sent a text message to his father, instructing him to use a screwdriver to enter his room. There, his father found a last will and testament and a suicide note on Palmeter's laptop.[13] At 1:19 p.m., 11 minutes after the first shots were fired, police officers entered the building and heard a single shot, suspected to be Palmeter killing himself.[13] His parents contacted the police at 1:53 p.m.[4] At 3:44 p.m., SWAT confirmed Palmeter was dead.[13] At least three manifestos were found on his body, including those addressed to his parents, the news media, and federal agents.[10][6][17][7] All three victims were black, consistent with an intent to kill black people as Palmeter wrote in the manifestos.[2]
Victims
editThree people, all of whom were black, were fatally shot.[18][7] The victims were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52; Jerrald Gallion, 29; and Anolt Joseph Laguerre Jr., 19.[19] Laguerre was an employee at the store.[20]
Perpetrator
editThe shooter, Ryan Christopher Palmeter (November 28, 2001 – August 26, 2023),[3][4] was a 21-year-old white male from Orange Park, Florida, who lived in the Oakleaf Plantation area of Jacksonville before he killed himself during the shooting.[5][6] Palmeter was a former student at both Oakleaf High School and Flagler College.[4] He was active on 4chan, 8chan, and Soyjak.party.[21] In 2016, he was the subject of a domestic police call between him and his brother.[4][13] In 2017, he was the subject of a Baker Act call, used to place persons under involuntary detainment for mental health examination for up to 72 hours.[6] During the call, Palmeter told police that he was distressed and planned to kill himself by jumping off the Bank of America Tower in downtown Jacksonville.[22] Because he was a minor and was not committed to mental health care, he was allowed to purchase firearms as an adult.[22]
Jacksonville police showed images of Palmeter's AR-15–style rifle bearing a swastika and racial slurs drawn in white sharpie, along with a Glock pistol without markings.[11][14] He acquired the pistol in April 2023 and the rifle in June 2023. Both weapons were obtained legally through FFL-transfer, which require background checks, and the police said Palmeter was legally allowed to possess them.[13] Palmeter's vest had a Rhodesian Army patch on it, a symbol which had previously been used by other white supremacists, including Dylann Roof, the perpetrator of the Charleston church shooting.[23]
Manifesto
editIn a manifesto reviewed by Rolling Stone shortly after the shooting, Palmeter denounced Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly for their close ties to black musical artists, identifying them as potential targets.[22] He also praised mass killers like Timothy McVeigh, Anders Behring Breivik, and Seung-Hui Cho.[22]
In January 2024, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a manifesto written by Palmeter, titled A White Boy Summer to Remember.[24] Besides referencing the aforementioned mass murderers, he also extensively wrote about Brenton Tarrant, calling him a "main inspiration".[24] He also referenced far right memes and literature, such as The Turner Diaries.[24]
Reactions
editIn response to the shooting, President Joe Biden said that "white supremacy has no place in America." He also noted that the shooting had taken place on the same day as the commemoration for the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a famous civil rights rally.[25]
Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statement in which he referred to Palmeter as a "scumbag" and a "coward" for killing himself instead of facing responsibility for his actions.[5] On August 27, DeSantis visited Jacksonville to attend a vigil for the victims. When he attempted to address the crowd, he was booed, forcing him to step away from the microphone. It prompted Jacksonville councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman to step in and ask the mourners to settle down, saying, "We are going to put parties aside because it ain't about parties today," before adding "A bullet don't know a party."[26]
Florida state representative Angie Nixon criticized DeSantis and called the shooting "a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked racism."[27]
See also
edit- History of African Americans in Jacksonville
- List of mass shootings in Florida
- List of mass shootings in the United States in 2023
- Jacksonville Landing shooting, a mass shooting that occurred in Jacksonville exactly five years earlier
- 2018 Jeffersontown shooting, a similar attack that targeted African Americans at a grocery store
- 2022 Buffalo shooting, a similar attack that targeted African Americans at a supermarket
References
edit- ^ "Jacksonville gunman in racist attack legally bought two weapons earlier this year, sheriff says". CNN. August 27, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c "3 killed in racially-motivated shooting at Dollar General store in Jacksonville, sheriff says". CBS News. August 26, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "#JSO Sheriff TK Waters holds follow-up briefing to identify the three victims who senselessly lost their lives yesterday during this tragic event. The suspect has been identified as 21yo Ryan Palmeter". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Young, Jin Yu; Bubola, Emma (August 27, 2023). "What to Know About the Jacksonville Shooting". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c Daugherty, Eric (August 26, 2023). "DeSantis denounces 'coward' Jacksonville shooter who allegedly targeted Black people". Florida’s Voice. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Rose, Nouran Salahieh,Andy (August 27, 2023). "Jacksonville gunman was turned away from historically Black university before killing 3 in racist shooting at nearby store, authorities say". CNN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Ward, Jasper; Zengerle, Patricia (August 28, 2023). "Gunman kills three, himself in racially motivated shooting". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ Arkin, Daniel (August 27, 2023). "Jacksonville shooting is the latest incident of fatal violence driven by white supremacy". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ Osborne, Deon (August 27, 2023). "Jacksonville White domestic terrorist attack part of anti-Black campaign". The Black Wall Street Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "4 dead, including shooter in racially motivated mass shooting at Kings Rd. Dollar General". Action News Jax. August 26, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "Jacksonville shooting: Gunman wanted to kill Black people, sheriff says". NBC News. August 26, 2023. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ Binley, Alex (August 27, 2023). "Jacksonville shooting: Several dead at Dollar General store in Florida". BBC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Jacksonville Dollar General mass shooting video released with names of victims, suspect (Full press conference)", First Coast News (via YouTube), August 27, 2023, archived from the original on August 27, 2023, retrieved August 27, 2023
- ^ a b Hatcher, Kendra Mazeke, Aleesia (August 26, 2023). "3 people dead after 'racially-motivated' shooting at store on Kings Road: Sheriff". WJXT. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Hatcher, Kendra Mazeke, Aleesia (August 26, 2023). "Mayor says there are a 'number of fatalities' in response to shooting at store on Kings Road". WJXT. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Video released of mass shooting in Jacksonville store, August 27, 2023, archived from the original on August 27, 2023, retrieved August 27, 2023
- ^ Margolin, Josh; Hutchinson, Bill (August 27, 2023). "Suspect in alleged racially motivated killing at Jacksonville Dollar General store to be identified: Sheriff". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Andy Rose,Ashley R. (August 26, 2023). "3 people dead in 'racially motivated' shooting at Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida, officials say". CNN. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rose, Eric Levenson,Sara Smart,Nouran Salahieh,Andy (August 27, 2023). "Jacksonville gunman in racially motivated attack legally bought two weapons earlier this year, sheriff says". CNN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Martinez, Gina (August 28, 2023). "Dollar General shooting victims identified after racially-motivated attack in Jacksonville - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Unsound Minds – Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville". folioweekly.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Winter, Jana; Legaspi, Althea (August 30, 2023). "Jacksonville Shooter Wanted Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly 'to be Killed On Sight,' His Writings Reveal". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Ortiz, Erik; Dienst, Jonathan (August 29, 2023). "Racist Jacksonville shooter wore Rhodesian army patch, a symbol of white supremacy, law enforcement sources say". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Jacksonville Shooter's Newly Public Writings Reveal White Supremacist Beliefs". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Yang, Maya (August 27, 2023). "Florida shooting: 'White supremacy has no place in US,' Biden says after killings". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ Sarkar, Alisha Rahaman (August 28, 2023). "Ron DeSantis is booed by mourners as he attends Jacksonville vigil after racist shooting". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ Nehamas, Nicholas (August 28, 2023). "With Jacksonville and Idalia, DeSantis Faces Two Crises in Florida". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
