2018 Jacksonville Landing shooting
The 2018 Jacksonville Landing shooting was a mass shooting that occurred during a Madden NFL 19 esports tournament in Florida. The attack, carried out by a disgruntled tournament participant, resulted in multiple casualties and prompted widespread safety reassessments across the esports industry.
| Date | August 26, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Location | GLHF Game Bar, Jacksonville Landing, Florida, United States |
| Game | Madden NFL 19 |
| Event | Madden Classic qualifier tournament |
| Perpetrator | David Katz |
| Fatalities | 3 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 11 |
| Weapons | .45 caliber and 9mm handguns |
The Tournament and Attack
The GLHF Game Bar, a video game venue within the Jacksonville Landing indoor marketplace, hosted a Madden NFL 19 qualifying tournament on August 26, 2018. The event drew a crowd of around 130 to 150 participants and spectators. One of the competitors was David Katz, a 24-year-old professional Madden player from Baltimore, Maryland. After losing a game, Katz refused to shake the winner's hand and left the venue. He returned shortly after with a handgun he had retrieved from his vehicle.
Katz opened fire inside the bar. A tournament announcer later stated he had been interviewing the first victim moments before that person was shot, and that Katz had intentionally targeted him. The gunman then turned and began shooting indiscriminately. He fired 12 shots in total. The violence was broadcast live on the tournament's Twitch stream, with footage later uploaded to YouTube. The first reports of gunfire on social media came at 1:34 pm EDT.
First responders arrived on the scene within two minutes of the first 911 call, at 1:36 pm EDT. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office urged people to stay away from the location at 2:13 pm EDT. SWAT officers evacuated and searched the area. Due to the venue's proximity to the St. Johns River, the United States Coast Guard was called to sweep the surrounding waterways.
The Victims
The attack killed two professional gamers and injured eleven other people. Elijah Clayton, 22, from Woodland Hills, California, was known by the aliases 'True' and 'Trueboy'. He had reportedly made a last-minute decision to attend the Jacksonville tournament. Video circulating after the shooting appeared to show a red dot from the laser sight on Katz's handgun on Clayton's chest about three seconds before the shooting began.
The second fatality was Taylor Robertson, 27, from Ballard, West Virginia, who competed under the alias 'SpotMePlzzz'. Of the eleven injured, ten had gunshot wounds and one was hurt while attempting to flee. Some of the wounded were able to leave the bar and seek help from first responders, while two others drove themselves to the hospital. The day after the incident, Memorial Hospital reported one person with minor injuries and three in good condition. UF Health announced that four victims had been released, with two still admitted.
The Perpetrator: David Katz
The shooter was David Katz, a 24-year-old from Baltimore attending the tournament as a participant. His parents were divorced and he was Jewish. Katz competed under pseudonyms including 'Bread', 'mrslicedbread', 'RavensChamp', 'ravens2012champ', and 'TREXHAVAHARTATAK'. He had a competitive history in Madden, having won a major tournament in 2017, earning a $10,000 prize.
Katz had a documented history of mental illness. He was diagnosed with dysthymia and oppositional disorder not otherwise specified, and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication. He had been involuntarily committed to mental hospitals on numerous occasions before the attack. Fellow competitors at the Jacksonville event reported he had been acting weird and refused to shake hands after his loss, which prevented him from reaching the tournament finals.
Investigation and Legal Aftermath
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced via Twitter at 2:45 pm EDT that there were fatalities at the scene, and at 2:53 pm EDT that one suspect was dead. Initially, it was unclear if there were additional gunmen, but officials later confirmed Katz acted alone. He was armed with a .45 caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun, one equipped with an aftermarket laser sight attached to the trigger guard. The weapons had been purchased legally in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Sheriff's Office stated the FBI was involved in the investigation, coordinating with police in Baltimore. Federal agents visited the home of Katz's father in South Baltimore. The incident was investigated as a criminal act and not an act of terrorism. Electronic Arts, the publisher of Madden NFL 19, cooperated with investigators.
By August 30, 2018, at least one tournament participant had filed a lawsuit against Electronic Arts, the game manufacturer, the mall, and the restaurant where the incident occurred. The lawsuit aimed to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure gamers could pursue their passion without fear for their lives.
Immediate Responses and Political Repercussions
Electronic Arts released a statement expressing its most heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and those injured. The publisher canceled the three remaining Madden Classic qualifier tournaments to reevaluate safety protocols for future live events. EA also donated $1 million as charity for the victims and set up a fund for others to contribute.
The shooting occurred 54 hours before the state polls closed in Florida's gubernatorial primary elections, making gun law ramifications a political talking point. United States President Donald Trump contacted Florida Governor Rick Scott, offering federal assistance. Initial media coverage from outlets like the BBC compared the shooting to other violent incidents in Florida, including the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and the Orlando nightclub shooting.
A separate online harassment campaign targeted a 23-year-old Minnesota man whose Reddit account was named 'Ravenchamps'. Far-right conspiracy websites InfoWars and The Gateway Pundit, along with commentators Mike Cernovich and Ian Miles Cheong, misidentified him as the suspect, highlighting anti-Trump statements made under his moniker. The man mocked his harassers and held an 'Ask Me Anything' session, telling The Washington Post he received no serious threats. The Gateway Pundit later posted a retraction.
Industry-Wide Safety Reassessment
The shooting prompted a major review of security across the esports and gaming industry. Organizers of large exhibitions and tournaments, including PAX, the Game Developers Conference, the Insomnia Gaming Festival, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the League of Legends Championship Series, and the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), all announced they would implement additional security measures at their upcoming events. The goal was to protect the safety of exhibitors and attendees, with discussions about bringing security for esports events to levels seen in other professional sporting events.
Memorials and Lasting Legacy
The gaming community organized numerous tributes. Video game developer Bungie observed a day of silence across all its channels on August 27, 2018. Publisher Bethesda offered condolences and support to the EA family. Esports organization OpTic Gaming held a charity livestream on August 31, 2018, with all proceeds going to the victims' families. A vigil was hosted by GLHF in front of the restaurant doors, attended by hundreds of people.
The event had a lasting historical echo. On August 26, 2023, a man shot and killed three people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. Investigators stated they believed the perpetrator chose that date specifically because it was the fifth anniversary of the Madden tournament shooting.
FAQ
What happened at the Jacksonville Landing shooting?
On August 26, 2018, a mass shooting occurred during a Madden NFL 19 esports tournament at the GLHF Game Bar in Jacksonville, Florida. A tournament participant, David Katz, opened fire after being eliminated, killing two people and wounding eleven others before killing himself.
Who were the victims of the shooting?
The two fatalities were professional Madden gamers Elijah Clayton, known as 'True', and Taylor Robertson, known as 'SpotMePlzzz'. Eleven other people were injured, most by gunfire, with one injured while fleeing.
Who was the shooter and what was his motive?
The shooter was 24-year-old David Katz, a competitive Madden player from Baltimore. He had just lost in the tournament and was reportedly acting strangely. Investigators found he had a history of mental illness but determined the attack was a criminal act, not terrorism.
How did the esports industry respond?
Publisher Electronic Arts canceled remaining tournament qualifiers, donated $1 million to victims, and reviewed safety protocols. Major gaming events like PAX and EVO announced increased security measures. The community held vigils and charity streams to honor the victims.
Was there a connection to a later Jacksonville shooting?
On the fifth anniversary of the Madden tournament shooting, a gunman killed three people at a Jacksonville Dollar General store. Investigators stated they believed the perpetrator chose that date because of the anniversary of the 2018 esports attack.
Source: English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), rewritten by the Redington Cybersport desk.
