Navy Orders Mandatory Muster After Jacksonville ‘Mass Shooting,’ Report Says

Jack Phillips
8/26/2018
Updated:
8/27/2018

The U.S. Navy says it started an area-wide muster to account for all personnel after a shooting at the Jacksonville Landing that left several dead and more wounded on Aug. 26.

“The muster is underway right now as all area commands are working to account for their people,” said Bill Dougherty, spokesman for Navy Region Southeast, according to the Navy Times. “We have no knowledge at this time whether any of our people were present or have been impacted by this tragedy and are accounting for our people.”

The Jacksonville area is home one of the Navy’s four major fleet concentration areas. It has commands at Naval Station, Mayport; Naval Air Station, Jacksonville; and Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia, the report said.

He said that sailors are mandated to maintain recall numbers with their commanders. During hurricanes and other natural disasters, personnel and families flee the area, and musters can take days to complete.

Dougherty told the Navy Times that he’s not sure how long the muster will take.

A mass shooting was reported at the Jacksonville Landing on Aug. 26, according to reports. (Google Maps screenshots)
A mass shooting was reported at the Jacksonville Landing on Aug. 26, according to reports. (Google Maps screenshots)

Details About the Shooting

Reuters reported that a gunman killed four people and wounded several others on Sunday when he opened fire at a video game tournament that was being streamed online from a restaurant on the Landing. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said one white male suspect was dead at the scene. He declined to comment on what led to the third major mass shooting to hit Florida in the last two years.

The shooting was captured via a live stream of a game of Madden 19.

The bar was livestreaming the football video game competition when the gunfire started, according to video of the stream shared on social media. In the video, players can be seen reacting to the shots and cries can be heard before the footage cuts off.

“Worst day of my life,” gamer Drini Gjoka wrote on Twitter. “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”

Gjoka added that he was shot in the thumb, describing himself as “literally so lucky.”

The Los Angeles Times said the shooter was a gamer who was competing in the tournament and lost. Citing messages from another player in the room, the Times said the gunman appeared to target several victims before killing himself. Reuters could not immediately confirm that account of events.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he was briefed on the matter.

“I’ve spoken to @JSOPIO Mike Williams to offer any state resources he may need. FDLE is currently responding, and I have spoken to FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding the shooting in Jacksonville. We will continue to receive updates from law enforcement,” he wrote on Twitter.

The Jacksonville Landing plays host to more than 600 events each year, which includes Florida/Georgia Weekend Celebrations, the Christmas Tree Lighting, as well as New Year’s Eve, and July Fourth celebrations.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) wrote on Twitter it is responding to the mass shooting.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Video credit: CNN
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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