Top figures from the professional U.S. online gaming community expressed shock and dismay on Sunday after a shooting at a tournament in Florida left three people dead.<\/p>\n
The rampage took place at the GLHF Game Bar in downtown Jacksonville, which was livestreaming a regional qualifier for a new football video game, Madden NFL 19.<\/p>\n
Police named the shooter as 24-year-old David Katz from Baltimore, Maryland, and said he was in Jacksonville for the competition. They said he killed two people before taking his own life, but declined to comment on his motive.<\/p>\n
The killings rocked the world of professional electronic gaming, also known as esports, which boasts an estimated 250 million players worldwide in a growing market worth about a billion dollars a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy heart goes out to the family, friends and people affected by the madden shooting today,\u201d one video platform streamer and Internet personality, Ninja, wrote on Twitter. \u201cEvil times we live in, just need to out shine that evil with positivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another high profile gamer, @ProblemWright, one of the top names in Madden competitions according to its maker, Electronic Arts Inc, said he was crying and \u201cin so much pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll over a videogame. Two of our brothers are gone man and its so disturbing. One of the most tragic days ive experienced. This community is like family. Broken,\u201d he wrote on Twitter.<\/p>\n
Cloud9, a professional gaming organization based in Los Angeles, California, said it was deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic events: \u201cOur hearts and deepest condolences go out to the victims, families, and all those affected by today\u2019s violence,\u201d the organization said on Twitter. \u201cStay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The victims have not yet been officially named, but another professional Madden player, @ThePrxdigyy, tweeted photos of two gamers who were reported on social media to have been killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cRIP to two of our brothers and speedy recovery for the others injured,\u201d he wrote. \u201cLove you all and hope something like this never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marquis Williams said he traveled from Chicago with his girlfriend to attend the competition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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