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Witness: Loss in video game prompted Jacksonville attack

By Ed Adamczyk

Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A witness to the shooting attack at a Jacksonville, Fla., restaurant Sunday said the assailant's motivation was revenge for a loss at a video game tournament.

David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, is the suspect, police said.

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Investigators said two people were shot to death before Katz turned the gun on himself. Nine other people were injured, all in stable condition.

Katz was a participant in a Madden NFL 19 video game tournament, in which simulated football games were played. The competition took place on Sunday afternoon in a Chicago Pizza location at Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront shopping mall.

About a dozen gunshots can be heard in audio of the competition, which was streamed on the Internet. A red dot, similar to a laser pointer, can be seen on one player before the shots are heard, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, reported.

The shooter used "at least one handgun" during the shooting, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said. He did not confirm the witnesses' explanation of a motive, but said police officers were on the scene within two minutes of a 911 call.

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SWAT teams and bomb disposal teams conducted a methodical search of the mall but did not find additional gunmen.

A Twitter message from the winning team in 2017 identified Katz as the winner of the Madden tournament, held that year in Buffalo.

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