According to police, 20 year-old Benjamin Charles Jones shot and wounded four shoppers inside the store Monday night before taking his own life. Investigators have collected journal writings that indicated the shooting was at least partially inspired by “racially motivated violent extremist” ideology. The FBI released a statement on the shooter, which includes the following:
As the investigation into the November 20 shooting at the Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio, continues, the FBI and the Beavercreek Police Department are providing an investigative update.
The victims injured during the attack include a Caucasian female, two African American females, and a Caucasian male.
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.
This investigation remains very active as the FBI thoroughly examines the attacker’s background, motive, connections, and online activity. Anyone with information regarding Benjamin Charles Jones is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Investigators examining Jones’ motives and background
According to the RAND Corp., a California-based nonprofit think tank, racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism refers to a “loosely organized movement of individuals and groups that espouse some combination of racist, antiSemitic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, misogynistic, and homophobic ideology.”
Investigators are still looking into Jones’ background to figure out whether he lied in any of his answers to a federal questionnaire used to determine if a person is prohibited under federal or state law from buying a gun. Federal investigators also are examining Jones’ motives, connections and online activity.
