Florida Shooting Prompts EA to Cancel “Madden” Qualifier Events

Video game maker Electronic Arts (EA) has cancelled its ‘Madden’ qualifier events after a mass shooting took place in Florida which killed three gamers.

It was on Sunday that a shooting took place during a Madden 19 video game tournament in Jacksonville Florida which killed 3 people, including the suspected gunman, David Katz, a 24-year old from Baltimore.

On Monday, EA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wilson said, “We have made a decision to
cancel our three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators.”

The event was a qualifying tournament for the Madden Classic, which according to Wilson, was “our first Madden EA Major competition of this season.”

The shooting on Sunday took place during a live stream of the “Madden NFL 19” tournament at a shopping-dining complex.

“It is an unthinkable tragedy that Taylor Robertson and Elijah Clayton, two of our top Madden competitors, lost their lives in this way. They were respected, positive and skilled competitors, the epitome of the players and personalities at the heart of our community,” said the company in a statement.

“We’ve all been deeply affected by what took place in Jacksonville,” said Wilson. “This is the first time we’ve had to confront something like this as an organization, and I believe the first time our gaming community has dealt with a tragedy of this nature.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and have not been compensated for this article.