Bahama breeze shooting: Ron DeSantis booed in Jacksonville as it’s revealed racist shooter bought weapons legally
Police cordon off street after shooter barricades himself inside Florida store
Florida governor Ron DeSantis was heckled by mourners at a vigil held in Jacksonville for the three victims killed in a racially motivated attack.
Two men and a woman were killed on Saturday by a 21-year-old white man named Ryan Palmeter, who “hated Black people”. The victims were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr, 19, and Jarrald De’Shaun Gallion, 29.
As the governor began speaking at the vigil on Sunday, many members of a crowd of over a hundred people booed Mr DeSantis, forcing him to step back from the microphone.
Ju’Coby Pittman, a Jacksonville city councilperson who represents the neighbourhood where the shooting took place, stepped in and asked the crowd to listen.
The shooting took place at a Dollar General store just blocks from the historically-Black Edward Waters University.
Shortly before the gunman went on a killing spree, his parents called law enforcement to say they had found a manifesto. The gunman had reportedly called his parents ahead of the attack and told them to look at his computer.
Sheriff TK Waters described those writings as a “disgusting ideology of hate”.
Police post photos of the chilling engravings on one of the weapons used
One photo, shared on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, showed a close-up of the weapon with at least two swastikas and illegible writing in white paint or marker on one side of the weapon.
This photo also revealed the type and brand of gun, as the weapon had “Palmetto State Armory” and “PA-15” engraved. Palmetto State Armory’s website describes PA-15 rifles as “our interpretation of the legendary AR-15 rifle that you have grown to love.”
Gun used in Florida Dollar General shooting, showing swastikas
(Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 06:00
Ron DeSantis heckled at Jacksonville vigil
Florida governor Ron DeSantis was heckled at a vigil held in Jacksonville for the three victims killed in a racially motivated shooting.
A video from the incident shows Mr DeSantis speaking at the vigil before the crowd collectively begins to boo him, forcing the governor to step back from the microphone.
City councilperson Ju’Coby Pittman then steps in to say: “Listen y’all, we are going to put parties aside because it ain’t about parties today. A bullet don’t know a party.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar28 August 2023 05:30
Jacksonville shooter, 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, seen just in the parking lot of the Dollar General
21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, identified as the suspect in the Jacksonville shooting
(Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office )
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 05:00
FBI launches federal civil rights investigation
The 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 04:30
Haunting photos of the rifle used in the Jacksonville mass shooting revealed
Photo of the AR-15 style rifle used in the Jacksonville shooting
(Jacksonville Police Department)
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 04:00
Updated timeline of the tragedy, as provided by police
12.48pm – 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 gloves
12.57pm – 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 girlfriend
1.13pm – 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 laptop
1.19pm – Officers entered the store. They hear a single gunshot, which is when police believe the suspect killed himself.
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 03:00
Chilling CCTV shows Jacksonville shooter entering Florida store during deadly rampage
Jacksonville shooter seen entering Florida store during racially motivated attack
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 02:00
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pressed on prevalence of raced-based attacks on right
When 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.”
Vivek Ramaswamy clashes with Chuck Todd over Jacksonville shooting
Kelly Rissman28 August 2023 01:00
Gun control group reacts to shooting
Everytown 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 00:15
DeSantis is mum on whether he will visit Jacksonville after mass shooting
The 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”.
Fatal Store Shooting Florida
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Kelly Rissman27 August 2023 23:15
