Ryan Palmeter seen on video entering Jacksonville Dollar General to start mass shooting that killed three people in racially-motivated attack

Terrifying video shows the moment a crazed, racist gunman enters a Jacksonville Dollar General armed with an AR-15 and then shoots dead three people in a racially-motivated attack. 

The gunman was identified as Ryan Palmeter, 21, police confirmed on Sunday. They also detailed a manifesto he left behind, calling it the ‘diary of a madman.’

Palmeter used an assault rifle covered in Nazi swastikas in the deadly assault on Saturday before turning the gun on himself, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The victims were 52-year-old Angela Michelle Carr, 19-year-old Anolt Joseph ‘A.J.’ Laguerre Jr. and 29-year-old Jarrald De’Shawn Gallion. 

Sheriff T.K. Waters said the gunman ‘hated black people’ and ‘wanted to kill ‘n******’.’ He described the shooting as a ‘dark day in Jacksonville’s history’. 

Both the rifle and handgun were legal and had been purchased legally, Waters said. The firearms dealers ― Wild West Guns and Orange Park Gun and Pawn — followed proper procedures in the sales, he added. 

Joe Biden noted that the shooting came on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, and added: ‘Even as we continue searching for answers, we must say clearly and forcefully that white supremacy has no place in America.’

Ryan Palmeter, 21, is seen opening fire on Saturday outside a Dollar General in Jacksonville

Palmeter, wearing a tactical vest, shot and killed 9-year-old Anolt Joseph “A.J.” Laguerre Jr., and 29-year-old Jarrald De’Shawn Gallion inside the store

The president said he and his wife were grieving for the victims.

‘On Saturday, our nation marked the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington — a seminal moment in our history and in our work towards equal opportunity for all Americans,’ he said in a statement.

‘But this day of remembrance and commemoration ended with yet another American community wounded by an act of gun violence, reportedly fueled by hate-filled animus and carried out with two firearms.’

He said a federal civil rights investigation has been launched, and officials are treating the shooting as a possible hate crime and act of domestic violent extremism.

‘Even as we continue searching for answers, we must say clearly and forcefully that white supremacy has no place in America,’ he said.

‘We must refuse to live in a country where Black families going to the store or Black students going to school live in fear of being gunned down because of the color of their skin. Hate must have no safe harbor. Silence is complicity and we must not remain silent.’

Palmeter left his home at 11:39am for Jacksonville and texted his father to check his computer. 

His horrified parents then called the sheriff’s office at 1.53pm to report the manifesto they found, but he had already begun his assault. 

He was reportedly involved in a 2016 domestic call with no arrest and was held under the state’s Baker Act in 2017 which allows people to be involuntarily detained and subject to an examination for up to 72 hours in a mental health hospital. 

Shooting victim Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion, 29, is shown holding his baby daughter in a photo from his Facebook page

Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion, 29, with girlfriend Elvesha Deloach in one of his Facebook photos. He, along with two other victims, was killed during a mass shooting by Ryan Palmeter at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida on August 26, 2023

He used an assault rifle covered in Nazi swastikas in the assault on Saturday before turning the gun on himself, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office 

The gunman was initially said to have barricaded himself inside the store and later died from a self-inflicted gun wound

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by the FBI and local authorities. 

The gunman lived in Clay County with his parents and sent a manifesto which detailed his racial hatred to the police and media before the attack. 

Palmeter was seen putting on tactical gear at the nearby Edward Waters University (EWU) campus moments before the shooting. 

Security at the historically black college tried to detain him but he managed to evade them. 

The suspect’s parents called the Sheriff’s Office after they found a concerning manifesto which contained a ‘disgusting ideology of hate.’ 

‘This shooting was racially motivated, and he hated black people,’ Sheriff T.K. Waters, who is black, said at a news conference.

‘He wanted to kill ‘n******’.’

He added that the gunman was in his 20s armed with an assault rifle and a handgun and ‘there is absolutely no evidence that the shooter is part of any larger group’ despite using an assault rifle covered in Nazi swastikas.

‘This is a dark day in Jacksonville’s history,’ the sheriff said. ‘Any loss of life is tragic, but the hate that motivated the shooter’s killing spree adds an additional layer of heartbreak.’ 

Ryan Palmeter, 21, has been identified as the white gunman who shot dead three black people at a Florida Dollar General store in Northwest Jacksonville in a ‘racially motivated’ attack

Palmeter, who lived in Clay County with his parents, fatally shot himself before he was caught. 

Deputies from Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were outside Palmeter’s home after the attack.

Patty Grisby, who is black, was shocked to find out he lived just a few doors down from her and said her children often played outside in the area.

‘I mean they ride their bikes. They play outside. I mean, it’s just really scary,’ she told Fox 30.

‘I mean I really have goosebumps just thinking about… It’s right here in our neighborhood. A quiet little street.’

Sabina Escalada, who lives across the street from Palmeter’s home, said she did not know him well but had a good relationship with his parents.

She said: ‘Just on the outside, he seemed like the typical teenager, you know like, didn’t seem very happy sometimes. Or just wanted to keep to himself.

‘It’s hard thinking about your own child doing something like that and you feel for the family.’

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released photos of weapons Palmeter used

Sheriff T.K. Waters told a press conference that the gunman hated black people but added there is no evidence he is part of any larger group

Panicked locals were seen forming a prayer circle with political leaders in the middle of the street following the tragic shooting

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the shooter as ‘scumbag’ and called him a ‘coward’ for taking his own life.

He said: ‘This shooting [was] based on the manifesto that they discovered from the scumbag who did this was racially motivated.

‘He was targeting people based on their race. That is totally unacceptable. This guy killed himself rather than face the music and accept responsibility for his actions.

‘He took coward’s way out. We condemn what happened in the strongest possible terms.

‘We send our condolences to the victims and their families.’ 

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Jacksonville shooting, the White House said.

Palmeter left his home at 11:39 to head to Jacksonville and texted his father to tell him to check his computer.

At 1.53pm, his parents called the sheriff’s office to report the manifesto they had found but by this time he had already begun his assault. 

He knew about a mass shooting which happened five years ago on the same date. Two people were killed and 10 were hurt in an attack at a video game tournament on August 26. 2018. 

Emergency services, including a SWAT team, rushed to the scene on Kings Road, at around 1pm on Saturday. 

Panicked locals were seen forming a prayer circle with political leaders in the middle of the street following the tragic shooting. 

Local reporter Vic Micolucci tweeted that the suspect ‘was spotted on campus at nearby Edwards University putting on a ballistics vest’ before heading to the Dollar General store. 

A witness said he was just moments away from walking into the store but realized he had no money so went to another store nearby.

Moments later he said he heard gunshots ring out and saw the shooter was firing at cars. 

He then witnessed a man fall back and another woman running away. 

Patty Grisby, who is black, was shocked to find out he lived just a few doors down from her and said her children often played outside in the area

Sabina Escalada, who lives across the street from Palmeter’s home, said she did not know him well but had a good relationship with his parents

Emergency services, including a SWAT team, rushed to the scene on Kings Road, at around 1pm on Saturday 

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by the FBI and local authorities 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the shooter as ‘scumbag’ and called him a ‘coward’ for taking his own life 

Police have cordoned off the scene on Kings Road which happened in front Cascade Apartments.

‘This is unacceptable,’ Mayor Deegan said. ‘One shooting is too much but these mass shootings are really hard to take.’ 

She was spotted at the scene speaking to emergency services. 

The suspect was seen on the EWU campus before the shooting. A suspicious man is said to have been spotted putting on a ballistics vest behind the library.

Security tried to catch Palmeter but he managed to escape, a source said.

Staff at EWU sent an alert out to students to warn them and asked them to remain their residence halls. 

District 13 State Representative Angie Nixon, who represents the neighborhood, said the situation was ‘tragic’. 

‘These are things that we want to try to avoid by making sure that our communities are fully resourced, making sure we’re creating a climate of love and not tension,’  Nixon told News4JAX. 

She was there trying to help people remain calm and offer support.  

Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said she was devastated to see more upset across the community. 

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan (pictured) confirmed there are ‘a number of fatalities’ following the incident which saw the shooter barricade himself inside.

‘I’m tired of seeing all the shootings,’ Pittman said. ‘The people in this community are hurting.’

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue were seen responding to the scene. Some officers and crew were seen leaving the area just before 4.15pm.

North and southbound lanes of King Street near the Canal Street intersection were blocked off.  Residents were asked to avoid the area. 

Jacksonville has a population of 971,000 and 30 percent of its residents are black. 

A vigil has been organized for the victims on Sunday at 5.30pm outside of the Dollar General store they were murdered. 

Dollar General released a statement Saturday evening following the shooting. 

It said: ‘We are heartbroken by the senseless act of violence that occurred at our Kings Road store in Jacksonville, Florida today.

‘At this time, supporting our Jacksonville employees and the DG family impacted by this tragedy is a top priority as we work closely with law enforcement.’

The Jacksonville Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.