BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — Federal officials believe its possible the shooter who wounded four people at a southwestern Ohio Walmart before killing himself was racially motivated.
According to a release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, officials collected journal writings from 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones. Based on the evidence collected, the FBI says the attack "may have been at least partially inspired by Racially Motivated Violent Extremist ideology."
Jones shot four people at the Walmart located in Beavercreek, a town of about 50,000 in the Dayton metropolitan area. The injured victims include two Black females, a white female and a white male. As of Tuesday evening, one victim was listed in critical condition. The conditions of the other three were described as stable.
The FBI says Jones used a Hi-Point .45 caliber semi-automatic carbine. The weapon was purchased at a Dayton area store two days before Jones used it to open fire inside the Walmart. Investigators are looking into whether Jones lied on any of the forms he filled out to purchase the gun.
Anyone with information about Jones is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or report tips online here.
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