JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 21-year-old gunman targeted and killed three Black individuals in a racially motivated attack at a Northwest Jacksonville Dollar General store last year. The shooter also took his own life at the scene of the crime, leaving behind a manifesto filled with bigoted and hate-filled rhetoric. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has recently made this manifesto public, shedding light on the disturbing ideology that motivated the deadly attack.
The victims of this tragic incident were 19-year-old AJ Laguerre Jr., 52-year-old Angela Carr, and 29-year-old Jerrald Gallion. The shooter’s manifesto, which spans 27 pages, expresses hateful views towards minority groups and espouses political conspiracy theories. According to investigators, the manifesto also contains the shooter’s declaration of a desire to be part of a movement to eradicate Black people.
Sheriff T.K. Waters stated that the decision to release the manifesto to the public was made in the spirit of transparency. The sheriff emphasized that the vile ideology expressed in the manifesto is entirely inconsistent with the values of the Jacksonville community and encouraged unity in the healing process following the tragedy.
The manifesto also includes the shooter’s acknowledgment of his actions as those of a “lone-wolf.” He urges others who share his hateful views to consider his actions as a call to arms.
Attorney John M. Phillips, representing Carr’s family, expressed disgust and concern about the manifesto, noting the danger it poses by providing fuel to individuals and entities that thrive on hate and violence.
The shooter’s attack was not limited to the Dollar General store. He attempted to enter another store and the campus of Edward Waters University, a historically Black college, but was deterred by the presence of security personnel at both locations. He then proceeded to the Dollar General in a predominantly Black neighborhood, where the tragic incident unfolded, leaving the local community in shock and mourning.
In the aftermath of the shooting, family members of the victims expressed their grief, anger, and frustration. One of the victim’s brothers tearfully expressed his longing for more time with his loved one and rejected the notion of finding solace in memories. The shooter’s father also discovered a note and the manifesto on his computer after the attack had already begun, prompting authorities to be notified.
As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this racially motivated attack, the release of the manifesto serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against hate and the importance of standing together in solidarity. Authorities hope that by making the manifesto public, it will underscore the urgent need for unity and vigilance against all forms of hate and bigotry.