Sheriff confirms legally purchased weapons by racially motivated Jacksonville gunman

White Gunman Kills Three Black People in Racially Motivated Attack at Florida Dollar General Store

A White gunman, identified as 21-year-old Ryan Christopher Palmeter, legally purchased the firearms he used in a racially motivated attack at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, according to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. Palmeter bought a handgun in April and an AR-15-style rifle in June. He had no criminal history, but had been involuntarily held under the Baker Act in 2017. The shooting, which occurred on Saturday, is being investigated as a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism by the Justice Department.

The gunman used racial slurs, left behind a racist screed, and drew swastikas on his firearm. He was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, and was wearing a tactical vest and blue latex gloves. The victims have been identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52; Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19; and Jerrald Gallion, 29. Prior to the shooting, Palmeter had been turned away from the campus of a nearby historically Black university, Edward Waters University.

The attack took place on the fifth anniversary of a mass shooting in downtown Jacksonville at a Madden video game tournament. It also coincided with the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a civil rights demonstration that called for the protection of Black people’s rights. The shooting in Florida is just one of many incidents in recent years where a gunman has targeted Black individuals.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 470 mass shootings in the US so far in 2023. The attack in Florida highlights the everyday presence of gun violence in American life. Law enforcement officials provided a minute-by-minute timeline of the attack, revealing that the shooter specifically targeted Black individuals. Authorities played video clips of the shooting, showing the gunman pointing his weapon at a car outside the store and walking into the store with his rifle.

The suspect’s family is not responsible for his actions, according to the sheriff. The shooter had been the subject of a 2017 Baker Act call, which allows for involuntary detention during a mental health crisis. Normally, individuals who have been detained under the Baker Act are prohibited from purchasing firearms. However, investigators found that the guns used in the attack were obtained legally.

The shooting has been condemned by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who called the gunman a “scumbag.” President Joe Biden also acknowledged the tragic symbolism of the shooting, taking place on the anniversary of the March on Washington. The local branch of the NAACP expressed solidarity with the affected families and highlighted the constant fear that Black communities live with.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing. The motive behind the shooter’s actions and any potential connections to extremist ideologies are being explored.

Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-27 20:55:00