Jacksonville shooting victims named as Taylor 'SpotMePlzzz' Robertson and Eli 'Trueboy' Clayton

Taylor "SpotMePlzzz" Robertson, from West Virginia and Eli "Trueboy" Clayton, from California, were identified as victims
Ella Wills27 August 2018

Two gamers who were killed after a gunman opened fire on a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, have been named.

Taylor "SpotMePlzzz" Robertson, 27, from West Virginia and Eli "Trueboy" Clayton, 22, from California, were identified as victims by friends in the online gaming community and local media including Action News Jax.

Police have not yet confirmed identities of those killed in the attack by David Katz, 24, at the Jacksonville Landing, a shopping and entertainment complex on Sunday.

A heavy police presence remained into the night at the shooting
Getty Images

Mr Robertson was married and father to a young son, and had won 13 out of his 18 prior matches in Madden NFL tournaments, according to EA Sports.

David Katz, 22, has been named as the man who shot dead two gamers before taking his own life
Twitter

His EA Sports profile describes him as "one of the toughest opponents in competitive Madden".

Mr Clayton was a rising star in the Madden community.

Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the deceased victims.

Police officers cordon off a street outside The Jacksonville Landing after a shooting during a video game tournament
REUTERS

One young man, known as @youn_kiv, tweeted: “RIP @True__818 Elijah Clayton. One of my best friends in life. I talked to u almost everyday for the last 5 years. U were one of the most kind and genuine people I’ve ever met.

“I love u like a brother. I’m gonna miss hearing you laugh everyday and seeing your genuine smile.”

One gamer, known as Larry Legend, was among those injured in the attack, his mother said on social media.

She tweeted that he had been shot three times, and shared an image of him in hospital.

He tweeted: "Devastated. No words. Surgery in the morning. Thanks to all who reached out."

Authorities believe Katz, from Baltimore, carried out the shooting at an online video game tournament that was being live-streamed from the shopping centre.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams holds a news conference on Sunday
AP

Police said the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot and that authorities were still making final confirmation of his identity with the FBI assisting them in Baltimore.

Nine injured in the attack were stable in hospital on Sunday night.

Two others were injured in the chaos as people sought to flee the gunfire.

Katz was in Jacksonville for the "Madden NFL 19" video game tournament.

The competition was held in a gaming bar that shares space with a pizzeria. Viewers could watch the games online and see the players.

Police are investigating an online video that appeared to capture the scene right before the shooting began, the sheriff said.

A red dot that appears to be a laser pointer is visible on the chest of a player seconds before the first of a dozen gunshots rings out.

The competition was held in a gaming bar that shares space with a pizzeria
Getty Images

Marquis Williams, 28, and his girlfriend, Taylor Poindexter, 26, both from Chicago, were ordering pizza at the bar when they heard the gunfire.

Mr Williams said people trampled each other in the panic while trying to get away.

"Initially we thought it was a balloon popping, but there weren't any balloons in the room. Then we heard repeat shots and we took off running," said Mr Williams, who participated in the tournament earlier.

Police at the scene of the incident in the Florida Landing area
AFP/Getty Images

The sheriff's office used Twitter and Facebook immediately after the shooting to warn people to stay far away and to ask anyone who was hiding to call 911.

Police also barricaded a three-block radius around the shopping centre. Officers and Coast Guard boats patrolled the nearby river.

Many ambulances could be seen in the area, but the shopping centre area appeared empty of all but law enforcement. Police also took up positions on a bridge overlooking the river.

On Sunday evening, the FBI said its agents searched a family home of the man authorities believed was behind the attack.

Heavily armed agents, some in bulletproof vests and brandishing long guns, could be seen entering an upscale townhome complex near Baltimore's Inner Harbour.

An FBI spokesman, Dave Fitz, confirmed that agents had gone to the house of the man's father in Baltimore.

He declined to release specifics, citing the ongoing investigation.

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