The world of Esports (“Electronic Sports”) has become one of the fastest growing communities of our lifetime. Professional video game tournaments clock in over 500 million views from the biggest competitions on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. But what happens when something goes wrong at one of these events and the whole world is watching, live? No one could have anticipated the horrors that would unfold mid-day, at an unsuspecting video game bar in Jacksonville, Florida. Yet, in a world that demands instant internet gratification, fastest upload speeds, and 4K game play... perhaps we should be careful what we wish for. We often overlook the isolated environment in which gamers subject themselves to. It’s easy to miss very real mental-health warning signs when enthralled and caught up in the realm “virtual reality.” When we fail to recognize these signals, how do the repercussions of one man’s actions affect our safety? When gunshots rang out over the livestream on August 26, 2018 - broadcasting live to hundreds of viewers during a professional Madden tournament, everyone ran for their lives. This is a deep dive into the mind of one desperate gamer, lost in his delusions. David Katz was willing to do anything it took to prove he was the best- even if that meant taking the lives of innocent people to get there.

Written by Michael Dunphy Jr., Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. Special thanks to Marquis Williams & Taylor Poindexter. 

 

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Written/Audio Sources: 

• Buffalo Bills Tweet Congratulating Katz on Tournament Win
• Madden Shooter Identified As " David Katz " 24-Year-Old Gamer

Katz Interview "He is Not Here to Make Friends" 

Jacksonville Mass Shooter David Katz "Bread" - EA Sports Interview

Madden 2017 EA Sports Commentary

Last Play: David Katz in Madden 17 Championship Final

Jacksonville.com 911 Call Audio

FirstCoastNews.com: 911 calls from the Jacksonville Landing

Jacksonville Police make statement regarding mass shooting this weekend

Shooting at Madden 19 video game tournament in Jacksonville leaves two dead

Global News: 'He was weird all weekend': Madden competitor says he beat suspected Jacksonville shooter in match

ABC News: Esports tournament announcer speaks out after deadly shooting

Madden NFL Shooting Suspect Identified As David Katz, Got Upset After Losing Tournament

Daily Mail: Eli 'Trueboy' Clayton's family speaks after his death in Jacksonville shooting

Chicago area couple survives Jacksonville shooting at gaming tournament

ABC 7 Chicago: Chicago area gamers describe escape from shooting at Jacksonville video game tournament

WGN: Jacksonville shooting survivors Taylor Poindexter and Marquis Williams open up about their experience

WBALTV.com: Marquis Williams "Wake Up" 3 dead, including gunman, after shooting at Florida video game tournament

CNN: Jacksonville shooter had history of mental illness and police visits to family home; Guns & How They Were Legally Obtained

USA Today: Bizarre behavior online playing Madden; Jacksonville shooting: Suspect had strange online persona, mental health issues

APNewsBreak: Detailed Source of Parent's Relationship, Parents Disagreements in David Katz' Treatment: Mental Health: Shooting suspect had history of mental illness

ESPN: Mental health issues in Esports remain silent but very real threat to players

ESPN: The Madden tournament shooting in Jacksonville -- an inside look at what happened

Associated Press: Shooting suspect was able to buy guns despite mental illness

USA Today: David Katz: Jacksonville killer legally armed himself in Maryland

EA SPORTS Jacksonville Tribute Livestream

New York Post: Shay Kivlen: I might have been target of Madden tournament shooter

 286.011 FLA "Sunshine Law" Statutes & Constitution

Daytona Beach News Journal: Did grudge push gunman in Jacksonville Landing mass shooting?

Buzzfeed.com: This Is What We Know About The Victims Shot And Killed At A Florida Video Game Tournament

 Katz Police Records

Warning: Graphic Content: David Katz: Official Jacksonville PD Investigation Files

MayoClinic.org: Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) - Symptoms and causes

Mayo Clinic: Risperidone: Side Effects

Wikipedia: Esports

Wikipedia: Madden NFL

Wikipedia: Steve Tasker

Wikipedia: Barclays Center

Wikipedia: Jacksonville Landing shooting

 

Music & Sound Effect Sources

• Opening Track: “Redress” by Lincoln Davis
• Closing Track: “Intuition” by Lincoln Davis

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at [email protected]

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