4 dead, including shooter in racially motivated mass shooting at Kings Rd. Dollar General

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Update Sunday 9:52 p.m.: A JSO source has confirmed that President Biden had reached out and spoke with JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters to offer support and condolences.

Update Sunday 3:45 p.m.: President Biden released a statement on the Dollar General mass shooting on X (formally Twitter)

Update 9:51 p.m.: Sources and neighbors have confirmed with Action News Jax the possible identity of the Dollar General shooter, Ryan Palmeter.

Update 7:55 p.m.: President Biden has been briefed on the Dollar General Mass shooting.

Update 6:50 p.m.: Gov. DeSantis has released a statement on the Dollar General mass shooting to Action News Jax.

Update 6:44 p.m.: The Clay County Sheriff’s Office releases an official statement on the mass shooting.

Update 6:30 p.m.: Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters reported during a media briefing that the mass shooting was racially motivated.

Officials confirmed that a gunman killed three people inside the Kings Rd. Dollar General, and then himself.

The shooter was reportedly armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun. The handgun could be seen with what appears to be swastikas on the side.

The suspect was described as a white man in his early 20s who allegedly lived with his parents. The suspect was reportedly involved in a 2016 domestic call in Clay County with no arrest and was Baker Acted in 2017.

The identity of the shooter and three victims have not been released to the public.

JSO reported that at around 11:39 a.m., Sheriff Cook gave information that the suspect left Clay County for Jacksonville.

Reports state that the suspect was a student at Edward Waters University, where he put on a tactical vest and mask on campus and left for Dollar General.

At around 1:18 p.m., the suspect reportedly texted his father and told him to check his computer. The family contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office following this discovery at 1:53 p.m.

By the time police were alerted, the shooting had already begun.

Sheriff Waters said there were several manifestos written by the suspect: one to his parents, the media, and federal agents.

Portions of the manifesto detailed the shooter’s “disgusting ideology of hate”.

“Plainly put, this shooting was racially motivated and he hated Black people. He wanted to kill n******” Sheriff T.K. Waters said at a news conference. “That is the only time I’ll use that word.”

The shooting resulted in 2 male and 1 female victims. All three were African American.

At this time there is no evidence that the shooter is involved in a larger group.

Update 5:15 p.m.: Gov. DeSantis has spoken to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters about the mass shooting.

Update 4:29 p.m.: A source has told Action News Jax that at least 3 victims are dead, plus the shooter. Action News Jax is working to learn more about the scene.

A source described the suspect as wearing a tactical vest, mask, and gloves at the time of the shooting.

A source also told Action News Jax the suspect’s manifesto was found earlier today in a Clay County home. It was reportedly found by the suspect’s parents.

Original: The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are at an active scene near Kings Road and Canal Street due to a reported shooting.

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Action News Jax sources state that SWAT can be seen near the Dollar General working a potential standoff with an armed suspect barricaded inside the store.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan confirmed to Action News Jax that there have been fatalities as a result of the incident. Additionally, a man is currently reported to be barricaded within a store on Kings Rd.

READ: Mayor Deegan says ‘number of fatalities’ due to Kings Rd. Dollar General mass shooting

Mayor Deegan stated “One shooting is too much, but these mass shootings are really hard to take. And I know we are all focused on solutions here.”

People are encouraged to avoid the area at this time due to the ongoing scene.

Action News Jax has a crew on the scene working to learn more information.

A media briefing will be held at 6:30 p.m.

This shooting has fallen on the five-year anniversary of XXXX, when a gunman opened fire during a video game tournament in Jacksonville, killing two people before fatally shooting himself.

Edward Waters University reported on X (formally Twitter) that students were being kept in their dorms. No students or faculty are believed involved, the school said.

This is an ongoing scene and will be updated when details arrive.

Action News Jax is at the scene working to learn more.

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