A 24-year-old man fatally shot two people at a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Fl. on Sunday afternoon before taking his own life, according to authorities.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office identified the suspected shooter as David Katz of Baltimore, MD.
Nine people were injured in the shooting, which took place in a Chicago Pizza restaurant at Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront entertainment and retail area in downtown Jacksonville. Police said all nine are in stable condition.
The restaurant was hosting a livestreamed tournament for the Madden NFL 19 video game.
WATCH: Madden 19 shooter took own life: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said police began receiving 911 calls about shots fired at the restaurant at 1:34 p.m. on Sunday, and that officers were on the scene two minutes later.
A livestreamed video of the incident showed players reacting to the gunfire, with shots and cries heard before the video cuts off.
WATCH: Aerial shots show police at scene of a mass shooting at a video game tournament in Jacksonville, FL.
The Los Angeles Times reported earlier that the shooter was a gamer who was competing in the tournament and lost. Citing messages from another player in the room, the Times said the gunman appeared to target multiple victims before killing himself.
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One woman told ABC that the shooter had gotten into a small argument with another gamer, after which he went and stood at the back of the room. She said he began firing shortly thereafter.
Global News could not immediately confirm those accounts of the events.
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Police said Katz was in the restaurant for the tournament, but didn’t confirm whether he was a participant. They didn’t comment on his motive or the events that led up to the shooting.
Katz is believed to be from Baltimore, and may have stayed at an area hotel the night before the shooting, police said, adding that authorities impounded Katz’s vehicle.
The victims’ identities are not known at this time.
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Competitive Madden gamer Drini Gjoka, 19, tweeted that he was at the tournament when the shooting took place. He said a bullet hit his thumb.
“Worst day of my life,” he said in another tweet.
Another gamer, who goes by the online nickname BUCTILLIDIE, tweeted that one of his friends sustained serious injuries in the shooting, but was expected to pull through.
One woman tweeted that her son was shot three times in the incident.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said the city was shaken by the shooting.
“We have faced an occurrence that is all too common, and will require us to continue to do the hard work of public safety to make sure that people are safe,” Curry said Sunday evening. “One violent crime in our city is one too many. Tonight we pray for the wounded and we pray for the families of those who were lost.”
READ MORE: Jacksonville shooting leaves eSports community in shock
Curry said local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were all involved in the investigation, and reiterated earlier pleas from police to witnesses to reach out with any information.
Jacksonville councilman Reginald Gaffney said he was in disbelief that a mass shooting could take place in his city, and said more needed to be done to tackle gun violence.
WATCH: Jacksonville city councilman say gun violence needs to be tackled following mass shooting
The shooting came amid a debate about U.S. gun laws that was given fresh impetus by the massacre in February of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Fla.
Two years ago a gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican who is challenging longtime Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in November’s election, said he had offered to provide local authorities with any state resources they might need.
Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from Florida, said both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance.
President Donald Trump has been briefed and is monitoring the situation in Jacksonville, the White House said.
WATCH: Gamer says Jacksonville Madden 19 tournament brings in people from all over
EA Sports, the maker of the Madden NFL video game, confirmed that the shooting took place at a sanctioned Madden competition.
“This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved,” EA Sports tweeted, adding that the company was working with authorities to gather more information.
— With files from Reuters and Global News reporter Jessica Vomiero
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