Jacksonville shooter in racist attack named, revealed he bought weapons legally – The Independent

Police cordon off street after shooter barricades himself inside Florida storeSign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morningSign up to our free morning US email news bulletinTwo men and a woman were killed in a racially-motivated shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, by a white man in his twenties, who “hated Black people”. The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said, calling him a “maniac.”The victims were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr, 19, and Jarrald De’Shaun Gallion, 29.The shooting took place at a Dollar General store just blocks from the historically-Black Edward Waters University. The gunman was initially seen near the library on the campus but security guards tried to take him into custody and he escaped.Shortly before the shooting took place, the gunman’s parents called law enforcement to say they had found a manifesto, reported WJXT. The gunman had reportedly called his parents ahead of the attack and told them to look at his computer.Sheriff Waters described those writings as a “disgusting ideology of hate”. The shooter, who had entered the store with an assault rifle covered in swastikas, took his own life. “His sickening ideology is not representative of the values of this Jacksonville community that we all love so much,” the sheriff said.1693193438FBI launches federal civil rights investigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting and will pursue the incident as a “hate crime”, Sherri Onks, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jacksonville office said.”Hate crimes are always and will always remain a top priority for the FBI because they are not only an attack on a victim, they’re also meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,”

Ms Onks said.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 August 2023 04:301693191623Haunting photos of the rifle used in the Jacksonville mass shooting revealedPhoto of the AR-15 style rifle used in the Jacksonville shooting (Jacksonville Police Department)Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 04:001693188023Updated timeline of the tragedy, as provided by police12.48pm – Suspect, Ryan Palmeter, arrived at the historically-Black Edward Waters University behind the library, donning a “bullet-proof vest,” gray tank top, black shorts, and latex gloves12.57pm – The suspect left EWU.12.58pm – EWU security followed the Palmeter out of the parking lot, as he headed toward the Dollar General.1.08pm – The suspect “murdered the first victim” from the parking lot of the store, the sheriff said. Seconds later, he entered the store and “engaged the second victim.”1.09pm – Suspect entered the rear door of the store, he shot at a security camera “several times” but missed; that’s when the first 911 call was made.1.10pm – The third victim entered the store with his girlfriend1.13pm – Palmeter shot the third victim; suspect chased a witness through the store, shooting at her, but missed and she safely exited the store from the rear door.1.14pm – Palmeter entered the office in the store.1.18pm – The suspect texted his father telling him to “use a screwdriver to get into my room,” where his father finds his son’s last will and testament and his suicide note on his laptop1.19pm – Officers entered the store. They hear a single gunshot, which is when police believe the suspect killed himself.Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 03:001693184423Chilling CCTV shows Jacksonville shooter entering Florida store during deadly rampageJacksonville shooter seen entering Florida store during racially motivated attackKelly Rissman28 August 2023 02:001693180823Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pressed on prevalence of raced-based attacks on rightWhen host Chuck Todd asked Mr Ramaswamy why he thinks race-based violent crimes are “a lot more pervasive on the right,” the entrepreneur replied, “I don’t think we should politicize this through partisan goggles.”Watch the full exchange:Vivek Ramaswamy clashes with Chuck Todd over Jacksonville shootingKelly Rissman28 August 2023 01:001693178123Gun control group reacts to shootingEverytown for Gun Safety posted a statement in the wake of the tragedy on X:A hateful man, enabled by Florida’s weak gun laws and emboldened by its governor’s relentless attacks on marginalized people, destroyed a community’s sense of safety and forever changed the lives of the victims and survivors.Florida’s lax gun laws make it easy for violent racists to arm themselves with an AR-15 and other assault weapons. We must keep guns out of dangerous hands and #DisarmHate to prevent more lives from being senselessly stolen.

Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 00:151693174523DeSantis is mum on whether he will visit Jacksonville after mass shootingThe Florida governor hasn’t said whether he will visit the scene of a racially-motivated mass shooting that took place in his home state on Saturday, as he has been on the campaign trail this week in Iowa, John Bowden reports.On Saturday, CNN reported that the DeSantis campaign had been asked whether the Republican governor would change his plans, and visit Jacksonville to pay respects to the victims’ families; a spokesperson said that the campaign “would let them know”.Read the full story:Fatal Store Shooting Florida (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Kelly Rissman27 August 2023 23:151693173607Who was Ryan Palmeter, the Jacksonville shooter?Florida voter records show Palmeter was a registered Republican. His X profile states that he attended Oakleaf High School in Clay County. In 2018, in his only tweet, he posted a photo of a letter from Flagler College that read “You’re In!” and he wrote the caption: “Looking forward to a bright career in Business Administration!”Kelly Rissman27 August 2023 23:001693172723Following up on his remarks in the wake of the shooting, Mr DeSantis added additional comments todayThe Florida governor said that the state condemns the “horrific racially-motivated murders perpetrated by a deranged scumbag.”Watch the full clip here:Kelly Rissman27 August 2023 22:451693171807The 2016 domestic disturbance incidentAccording to Sheriff Waters, Palmeter’s parents called police in 2016 to report a domestic disturbance between Ryan Palmeter and his older brother, James.Police records — obtained by multiple outlets — indicate James Palmeter is currently serving a prison sentence for a 2017 armed robbery. Sheriff Waters did not detail the dispute between the two brothers aside from mentioning that Ryan, who was then a teen, was not arrested at the time.Kelly Rissman27 August 2023 22:30

SOURCE: Independent