Washington, D.C. — Following the tragic mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, President Joe Biden has reached out to local authorities to offer his full support, Your Content has learned.
According to a statement from the White House, the President spoke with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters earlier this evening.
President Biden’s calls to Mayor Deegan and Sheriff Waters come at a time when the Jacksonville community is grappling with the aftermath of Saturday’s horrific event. The President offered his complete support to the people of Jacksonville and emphasized the need for unity and action to prevent future incidents.
“This evening, President Biden spoke to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan in the wake of Saturday’s horrific shooting.” White House officials said Sunday night. “The President also spoke this evening with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. In both calls, the President offered his full support to the people of Jacksonville.”
The shooting, which took place at a Dollar General store, was carried out by Ryan Palmeter. The attack was racially motivated, targeting Black individuals and resulting in three deaths, including that of the shooter. The firearms used were marked with swastikas, and a manifesto was discovered at Palmeter’s residence, indicating premeditation for the attack.
Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, expressed grief over the incident and called for political leaders to take action against racism and far-right violence. Her sentiments echo the broader community’s call for immediate and effective measures to prevent such tragedies.