Victims of Jacksonville shooting identified as DOJ probes killing

The three African Americans killed Saturday by white racist Ryan Christopher Palmeter at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, have been identified.

The victims were identified Sunday as 52-year-old Angela Michelle Carr, 19-year-old Anolt Joseph “A.J.” Laguerre Jr. and 29-year-old Jarrald De’Shaun Gallion.

The identification came as the U.S. Justice Department announced plans to investigate the shooting as a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism.

Attorney General Merrick Garland described the shooting as a horrific act of hate.

“In the wake of the mass shooting, FBI and ATF agents responded to the scene and are continuing to work closely with local law enforcement on the ground,” Garland said Sunday in a statement.

“The Justice Department is investigating this attack as a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism. The entire Justice Department extends its deepest condolences to the loved ones of the victims and to the Jacksonville community as they mourn an unimaginable loss.”

Palmeter, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had written manifestos detailing his desire to kill Black people, according to authorities who also said that one of the firearms he was armed with during the shooting was marked with a swastika.

Jacksonville County Sheriff T.K. Waters had said during a Sunday press conference that the shooting was being investigated by the FBI as a potential hate crime.

“Plainly put, this shooting was racially motivated. He hated Black people,” he said. “This is a dark day in Jacksonville’s history. Any loss of life is tragic, but the hate that motivated the shooter’s killing spree adds an additional layer of heartbreak.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the shooting, which he called “racially motivated” and perpetrated by “a deranged scumbag.”

“Perpetrating violence of this kind is unacceptable and targeting people due to their race has no place in the state of Florida,” he said during a press conference.