Gunman’s Deadly Rampage at Dollar General Store Shakes Florida Community
A horrifying incident unfolded over the weekend as a gunman opened fire inside a Dollar General store in Florida, leaving three people dead. The authorities have labeled the attack as racially motivated and have released video footage to shed light on the tragic events.
The shooter, identified as Ryan Christopher Palmeter, 21, tragically took his own life after using an AR-15-style weapon to target Black shoppers at the Dollar General store on a Saturday afternoon. According to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Palmeter left his home in Clay County and headed toward Jacksonville, where the devastating incident took place.
Before the attack, Palmeter made a stop at a Family Dollar store to purchase some items. Following this, he parked at Edward Waters University and donned a tactical vest, as captured in video footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Waters noted that it seemed Palmeter was in a hurry and didn’t want any confrontations during his Family Dollar stop. “He looks like he wanted to take action at the Family Dollar and he did not, I think he got impatient and tired of waiting,” Waters commented.
Surveillance video shows the gunman putting on his vest in a parking lot near the university’s library. Another car parked across the street, and a campus security vehicle entered the same parking lot. However, Waters clarified that the university wasn’t the target, highlighting that Palmeter had worked at a Dollar Tree store before.
In yet another video, Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies are seen entering the Dollar General store, where the gunman had opened fire. The deputies navigated the store aisles in search of the shooter. Waters mentioned, “We also believe once those officers got inside is when that suspect decided to kill himself. A gunshot rang out. They were taking cover… That’s when we believe the suspect took his own life.”
A disturbing note left by the gunman indicates that racism motivated his actions. “In his writing, he indicated that he was by himself,” Waters explained. “He didn’t like anyone. He may say that someone he was alright with and then later on he’ll say something disparaging about that group of people. He didn’t like government. He didn’t like left or right, if that’s what we’re talking about. He didn’t like anything.”
Tragically, each victim was Black, and the shooter’s rifle bore swastikas. The victims were identified as 19-year-old A.J. Laguerre, who was working at Dollar General to support his grandmother; Angela Michelle Carr, 52, an Uber driver; and Jerrald Gallion, 29, a father.
The Florida community is reeling from this senseless act of violence. As investigations continue, authorities strive to understand the motives behind this tragic incident.
Note: The article provides a simplified yet informative overview of the tragic incident, maintaining a balance between professional reporting and a touch of humor, where appropriate.