3 dead after shooting at Florida video game tournament (VIDEO)

Three people died this weekend after a man opened fire during a video game competition at an open-air mall in Florida.

Law enforcement said the suspected gunman, 24-year-old David Katz, struck at least 12 people attending a Madden NFL 19 Classic tournament at GLHF Game Bar inside Chicago Pizza, a restaurant located at the Landing in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said Katz, of Baltimore, killed two others before turning the gun on himself shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Nine more — including seven gunshot victims — were injured in the attack, he said, and are recovering at area medical centers. Two others checked themselves into local hospitals with reported gunshot wounds.

Williams told reporters law enforcement “won’t comment on a motive yet” and said the department will release more information as it becomes available.

“We have faced an occurrence that is all too common,” Mayor Lenny Curry said Sunday night during a news conference. “Tonight, we pray for the wounded and we pray for the families of those who were lost.”

The shooting unfolded in front of thousands of online viewers. Contestants — complete with advertising deals — traveled to Jacksonville to compete in the tourney for a $5,000 cash prize and hopes to advance into the Las Vegas finals, scheduled for October. One of them, Drini Gjoka, tweeted after fleeing the restaurant amid of flurry of gunshots.

Williams confirmed the department retains a copy of a video of the shooting captured on a player’s live stream. He did not divulge the contents of the video to reporters Sunday.

EA Sports, the game company responsible for producing Madden, released a statement on social media expressing shock and grief over the situation.