Multiple Deaths In Madden 19 E-Sports Event Shooting In Jacksonville, Fla.: Authorities

AP Photo/Laura Heald) – Jacksonville Landing
The coast guard patrols the St Johnriver outside of the Jacksonville Landing in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Florida authorities are reporting multiple fatalities after a mass shooting at the riverfront mall in Jacksonville that was hosting a video game tournament.

Florida authorities are reporting multiple deaths, including the suspected shooter, and as many as 11 shot with “many transported” to hospitals after a mass shooting at a riverfront mall in Jacksonville that was hosting a video game tournament.

The Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office is reporting that one suspect is dead at the scene after the shooting at Jacksonville Landing, but it was unknown if there were other suspects involved.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office used Twitter and Facebook to warn people to stay far away from the Jacksonville Landing.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>We are finding many people hiding in locked areas at The Landing. We ask you to stay calm, stay where you are hiding. SWAT is doing a methodical search inside The Landing. We will get to you. Please don’t come running out. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLandingMassShooting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TheLandingMassShooting</a> <a href=”https://t.co/qBJvkaO7xT”>https://t.co/qBJvkaO7xT</a></p>— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) <a href=”https://twitter.com/JSOPIO/status/1033790037840879616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 26, 2018</a></blockquote>

The department says to “stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY.”

“We are finding many people hiding in locked areas at The Landing. We ask you to stay calm, stay where you are hiding. SWAT is doing a methodical search inside The Landing. We will get to you. Please don’t come running out,” the sheriff’s office said via Twitter.

The sheriff’s office didn’t provide any other information, but also warned news media to stay away from the area, which contains restaurants and shops along the St. Johns River.

The GLHF Game Bar at the Landing was hosting a Madden 19 video game tournament at the time of the shooting.

The venue is located in the Jacksonville Landing mall in the downtown area, and offers “PC games, console games, arcade cabinets and tabletops games” along with two full-service bars and a patio.

The tournament was part of EA Sports’ $5,000 Madden Championship Series, one of four qualifiers for Madden NFL 19 Classic series and began Aug. 25, according to the tournament website.

Jacksonville Landing hosts concerts and other entertainment, has a busy food court and a hosty of bars and restaurants.