Current:Home > BackOhio Walmart mass shooting possibly motivated by racist ideology, FBI says-LoTradeCoin
Ohio Walmart mass shooting possibly motivated by racist ideology, FBI says
View Date:2024-12-24 00:23:23
CINCINNATI — The mass shooting at a Walmart in Ohio was possibly motivated by racist beliefs, according to the FBI and authorities.
Police say Benjamin Charles Jones, 20, shot and wounded four shoppers inside the store Monday night before taking his own life. Investigators have collected journal writings that indicated the shooting was at least partially inspired by "racially motivated violent extremist" ideology, FBI officials said in a news release Wednesday, adding that they will investigate the motivating factors leading to the attack.
Two of the victims are Black women, the others are a white man and a white woman, officials said. As of Tuesday afternoon, one of the victims remained in critical condition. The rest were considered stable or their injuries were not life-threatening.
The attack was reported at around 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio, a town of about 50,000 in the Dayton metropolitan area. Jones was found dead due to a self-inflicted gunshot behind the vision center in the store shortly after Beavercreek police responded to the scene, officials said in a news conference Tuesday.
Officials said Jones used a Hi-Point .45 caliber carbine with a single nine-round magazine. That firearm was purchased Nov. 18 from a store in the Dayton area.
Investigators examining Jones' motives and background
According to the RAND Corporation, a California-based nonprofit think tank, racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism refers to a "loosely organized movement of individuals and groups that espouse some combination of racist, antiSemitic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, misogynistic, and homophobic ideology."
Investigators are still looking into Jones' background to figure out if he lied in any of his answers to a federal questionnaire used to determine if an individual is prohibited under federal or state law from buying a gun. Federal investigators are also examining Jones' motives, connections, and online activity.
Police have not said if Jones was targeting anyone or if he knew any of the victims. Officers said the victims were found throughout the store.
Investigators said Jones is from Dayton, but had moved away several years and returned about a year ago. He does have family in the Dayton area, police reported.
Denver's tactic to reduce gun violence?Solving more nonfatal shootings
Gun violence in the U.S.
Monday's shooting is the latest incident in a wave of gun violence across the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 38,000 firearm deaths so far this year and more than 600 mass shootings – which is defined by the archive as four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including the shooter.
Walmart issued a statement Tuesday saying it is working closely with investigators to try to determine why a shooter opened fire at its store. The shooting happened a day after two people were shot and killed outside a Walmart in south Anchorage, Alaska.
“We’re heartbroken by what’s happened at our Beavercreek, Ohio store. This remains a developing situation, and we’re working closely with investigators on the scene,” Walmart said in a statement.
In 2019, Dayton was the site of a mass shooting in its Oregon District. Connor Betts killed nine people and wounded many more before he was shot and killed by police.
In 2014, John Crawford III was shot and killed by a police officer at the same Walmart where the shooting occurred in Beavercreek Monday. Crawford was holding a pellet gun he had picked up in the store.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer
veryGood! (388)
Related
- Digital Finance Research Institute Introduce
- Mississippi man charged with shooting 5 people after not being allowed into party
- Social media star squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies
- Over 1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles subject of US probe over potential engine failure
- Pennsylvania House Republicans pick new floor leader after failing to regain majority
- 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant makes viral mistake: 'Treat yourself a round of sausage'
- 15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
- Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
- Padma Lakshmi, John Boyega, Hunter Schafer star in Pirelli's 2025 calendar: See the photos
- FC Cincinnati player Marco Angulo dies at 22 after injuries from October crash
Ranking
- Roster limits in college small sports put athletes on chopping block while coaches look for answers
- Jeep slashes 2025 Grand Cherokee prices
- Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, odds
- Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
- Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
- Controversial comedian Shane Gillis announces his 'biggest tour yet'
- Tony Hinchcliffe refuses to apologize after calling Puerto Rico 'garbage' at Trump rally
- Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Pick, Brings a Moderate Face to a Radical Game Plan
Recommendation
-
LSU leads college football Week 11 Misery Index after College Football Playoff hopes go bust
-
Ex-Duke star Kyle Singler draws concern from basketball world over cryptic Instagram post
-
Pennsylvania House Republicans pick new floor leader after failing to regain majority
-
After Baltimore mass shooting, neighborhood goes full year with no homicides
-
QTM Community Introduce
-
Family of security guard shot and killed at Portland, Oregon, hospital sues facility for $35M
-
NCT DREAM enters the 'DREAMSCAPE': Members on new album, its concept and songwriting
-
My Chemical Romance will perform 'The Black Parade' in full during 2025 tour: See dates