Ryan Palmeter Identified as Gunman in Florida Shooting that Killed Three; Police Reveal Motive of Racial Hatred
A gunman who shot dead three black people in a “racially motivated” attack in Florida has been named.
Ryan Palmeter, 21, killed two men and a woman inside a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Sheriff T K Walters told a news conference on Sunday.
He said the suspect “targeted black people” before killing himself.
“Plainly put, this shooting was racially motivated and he hated black people,” he told reporters.
Sheriff Waters said he used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 style rifle emblazoned with swastikas during his killing spree which occurred shortly before 2pm local time.
Residents talk with Jacksonville police officers near the scene. Pic: AP
Palmeter reportedly left several manifestos littered with racial epithets detailing his hatred of black people.
Sheriff Waters added that there was no indication he was acting as part of a larger group.
He had driven from neighbouring Clay County and had sent his father a text message telling him to check his computer.
His father found the writings and the family called 911, but the shooting had already begun.
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Jacksonville sheriff says racism was behind the killings in Florida
Earlier, Mayor Donna Deegan told WJXT “there were a number of fatalities” inside the store but did not give a precise number.
Numerous police officers were in the area near Edward Waters University, a small historically black university.
“This is unacceptable,” Ms Deegan told the station. “One shooting is too much but these mass shootings are really hard to take.”
Pic: AP
Jacksonville City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman
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