Background: A gunman, 21 years old and white, killed three Black people, then himself, at a Dollar General store on Saturday in what law enforcement describes as a racially motivated attack. The gunman texted his father during the attack and told him to check his computer, where “the father found a suicide note, a will and racist writings from his son” (The AP). A federal hate crime investigation is now underway.

From the Sheriff: Jacksonville County Sheriff T.K. Waters explained that the shooter left behind writings that resembled "the diary of a madman," with offensive and hateful words that were "completely irrational." Waters said, "To our knowledge" the shooter "had no criminal arrest history," though was involuntarily committed to a hospital for mental examination in 2017 (he was 15 years old at the time). The two guns used in the shooting were both purchased legally earlier this year.

The victims have been identified as Angela Michelle Carr (52), Anolt Joseph "AJ" Laguerre Jr. (19), and Jerrald De'Shaun Gallion (29).

Sheriff Waters said at Sunday's press conference, "There's no reason or explanation that will ever account for the shooter's decisions and actions. His sickening ideology is not representative of the values of this Jacksonville community that we all love so much."

Suspect identified in racially motivated killing at Jacksonville Dollar General story: Sheriff