Ohio Walmart Shooting Motivated by Racist Extremism
A white gunman who opened fire inside a Walmart in Ohio and wounded four people before killing himself may have been motivated by racist extremism, the FBI said Wednesday.
Four shoppers — two Black women, a white woman and a white man — were wounded in the attack at the Walmart in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, just days before Thanksgiving, the FBI said.
Evidence, including journal writings, shows the shooting may have been at least partially inspired by racially violent extremist ideology, according to the FBI.
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones, of Dayton, entered the store Monday night, carrying a Hi-Point 45-caliber Carbine long gun, police said. He shot an undetermined number of rounds, leaving injured victims throughout the building, before turning the weapon on himself, authorities said.
Police said they were on the scene three minutes after the first call came in at 8:36 p.m. Officers found Jones dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 8:42 p.m.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach relatives of Jones were unsuccessful.
Jones purchased the firearm just 48 hours prior to the incident at a store in Dayton, according to the FBI. Investigators are currently looking into whether he provided false information on his background check form, as well as conducting a thorough examination of his background and online activity.
Authorities have confirmed that three of the victims are in stable condition at local hospitals, while one woman remains in critical but stable condition. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed by law enforcement.
"Our beloved community experienced a tragic event on Monday evening," stated Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone in a press release on Tuesday. "In the face of adversity, the resilience of our community shines through."
The shooting occurred one day after a man killed a woman and then took his own life outside a Walmart in Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage police have stated that this was a domestic violence-related incident.
Last year, a white gunman targeted Hispanic shoppers in a racist attack at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 23 people. As a response, Walmart made the decision to discontinue the sale of certain types of ammunition and requested that customers no longer openly carry firearms in their stores. The retailer now exclusively sells hunting rifles and related ammunition.
The Store in Ohio: A History of Tragedy
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The store in Ohio where Monday's shooting took place has a haunting past. Almost a decade ago, it was the site of a fatal shooting involving police. The incident occurred in August 2014 when a white police officer shot 22-year-old John Crawford III. Crawford had innocently picked up an unpackaged pellet rifle he found on a shelf.
The tragic event took a toll on Crawford's family, who fought for justice. After years of legal battles, they reached a settlement of $1.7 million with the city of Beavercreek. The monetary compensation was accompanied by significant changes in police policy, ensuring that such a tragedy would never happen again.
While the recent shooting at the same store has brought back painful memories, it also highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to address systemic issues and ensure the safety of all individuals.
