On Nov. 20, a 20-year-old white man opened fire inside a Walmart in Ohio, killing two Black women and two white people before turning his weapon on himself. Upon the investigation into the shooting, the Feds discovered his actions may have been racially motivated.
Police say Benjamin Charles Jones walked into a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio and shot the four victims with a hunting rifle he purchased just two days earlier. By the time the cops arrived on the scene, Jones had also taken his own life. The four victims sustained injuries but survived the attack. One is reportedly in critical condition, per USA TODAY.
Immediately following the incident, Jones’ motive was unclear. However, federal investigators discovered a journal among his belongings with contents that may place him in the same category as shooters Dylann Roof and Payton Gendron.
Read more from the FBI’s release:
To date, the investigation has revealed the following information:
Based on evidence collected—including journal writings from the attacker, Benjamin Charles Jones—the attack may have been at least partially inspired by racially motivated violent extremist (RMVE) ideology. The FBI will continue to investigate the motivating factors leading to this attack.
The attacker used a Hi-Point .45 caliber carbine with one nine-round magazine. The weapon was purchased on November 18 from a store in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Investigators are continuing to look at the background of the subject to determine if any of his answers on the ATF Form 4473 were inaccurate.
A source told The New York Post that Jones was admitted to the mental hospital more than once over the past three years, which they believed should have disqualified his application for a firearm.
“He was not socialized, he spent all his time at home. I don’t think he was able to deal with conflict, girlfriends, breakups and everything else,” the source said via NY Post.
More information regarding Jones’ diary entries has not yet gone public.