FBI Investigates Ohio Walmart Shooting as Racially Motivated Attack

Published on November 30, 2023

(AP) – The FBI has revealed that a white gunman who opened fire inside a Walmart in Ohio, injuring four people before taking his own life, may have been driven by racist extremism. The attack, which occurred just days before Thanksgiving, left two Black women, a white woman, and a white man wounded, according to the FBI.

Based on evidence gathered, including the shooter’s journal writings, it is believed that the motive behind the shooting was at least partially influenced by racially violent extremist ideology. The FBI is conducting a thorough investigation to establish the complete picture of the gunman’s motivations.

The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones from Dayton, entered the Beavercreek Walmart on Monday night armed with a Hi-Point 45-caliber Carbine long gun. He fired an undisclosed number of rounds, causing injuries to multiple victims before taking his own life.

Efforts by The Associated Press to contact Jones’ relatives have been unsuccessful thus far, leaving investigators with limited leads to delve into his background and any potential online activities.

The FBI has confirmed that Jones purchased the weapon only two days before the attack from a store in Dayton. Investigators are now reviewing whether he provided false information during the background check process. Additionally, they are examining his past and online presence to gather more insights into his mindset prior to the shooting.

Authorities have stated that three of the victims are in stable condition, while one woman remains in critical but stable condition at local hospitals. Out of respect for the privacy of the victims and their families, their identities have not been disclosed.

It is worth noting that this incident in Ohio comes shortly after another shooting outside a Walmart in Anchorage, Alaska, where a man killed a woman before turning the gun on himself. Police in Anchorage have determined the incident to be related to domestic violence.

The memory of the tragic 2019 shooting at an El Paso, Texas Walmart, where a white gunman targeted Hispanic shoppers, killing 23 people, still lingers. In response, Walmart made significant changes to its firearm policies, discontinuing certain ammunition sales and requesting that customers no longer openly carry firearms in their stores. Presently, the retailer only sells hunting rifles and associated ammunition.

Interestingly, the Ohio Walmart where Monday’s shooting occurred was previously the site of a fatal police shooting nearly a decade ago. In August 2014, a white police officer shot and killed 22-year-old John Crawford III after he picked up an unpackaged pellet rifle he found on a shelf. The family of the unarmed Black man reached a settlement of $1.7 million with the city of Beavercreek, leading to changes in police policy.