By Steve Neavling
The 20-year-old man who opened fire at a Walmart in Ohio on Monday and wounded four people appears to have been at least partially inspired by “racially motivated violent extremism,” the FBI announced, citing his journals.
Benjamin Charles Jones entered the Walmart in Beavercreek, near Dayton, around 8:36 p.m. and shot four people, identified as two Black women, a white woman and a white man, according to the FBI. Three of the victims were in critical condition, and the other had non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers arrived about six minutes after the shooting to find the gunman dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Jones used a Hi-Point .45 caliber carbine that was purchased on Nov. 18 at a store near Dayton, the FBI said.
Investigators are still looking into Jones’ background and are trying to determine whether Jones was truthful on the ATF Form 4473 that he filled out to buy the gun.
