White Gunman in Ohio Walmart Shooting Motivated by Racist Extremism, FBI Says

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Gunman Opens Fire Inside Ohio Walmart, Motivated by Racist Extremism, FBI Says

In a shocking incident, a white gunman entered a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio, and opened fire, injuring four people before taking his own life. The FBI has now revealed that the shooter may have been motivated by racist extremism.

The victims of the attack include two Black women, a white woman, and a white man. The incident occurred just days before Thanksgiving, leaving the community in shock and mourning. The FBI has identified evidence, including journal writings, suggesting that the shooter’s actions were at least partially influenced by racially violent extremist ideology.

The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones from Dayton. He entered the store on Monday night carrying a Hi-Point 45-caliber Carbine long gun and began shooting indiscriminately, leaving victims throughout the building. He then turned the weapon on himself, ending his own life. The Associated Press attempted to reach Jones’ relatives but was unsuccessful.

Further investigation into the shooter’s background is underway. The FBI is checking whether he provided false information on his background check form and is also looking into his online activity. It has been revealed that Jones purchased the gun just two days prior to the attack at a store in Dayton.

As of Tuesday, three of the victims were in stable condition at local hospitals, while one woman remained in critical but stable condition. However, the authorities have not released the identities of the victims.

This incident comes just a day after a man shot and killed a woman before taking his own life outside a Walmart in Anchorage, Alaska. According to the police, the incident in Anchorage was a domestic-violence related crime.

Tragically, this is not the first time a Walmart store has been the site of a racially motivated attack. In 2019, a white gunman targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 23 people. In response to that incident, Walmart discontinued sales of certain types of ammunition and requested that customers no longer openly carry firearms in their stores. The retailer now only sells hunting rifles and related ammunition.

It is worth noting that the Walmart in Beavercreek, where Monday’s shooting occurred, was also the location of a fatal shooting involving the police almost 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 from a shelf. The family of the Black man reached a settlement of $1.7 million with the city of Beavercreek, which included changes in police policy.

The incident at the Ohio Walmart serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence and the persistence of racially motivated attacks. Authorities are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the shooter’s motives and any potential ties to extremist ideologies. As the investigation continues, the community will come together to support the victims and their families during this difficult time.

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