RIVERVIEW, FL – A Riverview man who was shot three times during the Aug. 26 mass shooting at the Jacksonville Madden video game competition is back home recovering.
Professional gamer Timothy Anselimo, 25, who goes by the gaming names oLARRY and Larry Legend, is recovering from gunshots to his hand, hip and chest.
Two people were killed at the Madden NFL video game competition at the GLHF Game Bar in the St. Johns River entertainment complex when a gunman opened fire on the players. The shooter, reportedly a disgruntled gamer, then shot himself.
Anselimo was among 11 others who were injured. He spent a week at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center where he underwent two surgeries, including surgery on his hand.
He said doctors are hopeful that he will regain some function in his thumb but Anselimo said he’s not sure if it will be enough to allow him to resume his gaming career.
“I’m taking it day by day and just hoping for the best,” he said.
Anselimo said the shooter, 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore, was just feet away from him when he opened fire on the gamers. Anselimo was initially shot twice.
“Where he was and where I was when everyone first saw him — he was just a couple of feet away.” said Anselimo.
Anselimo ducked behind a table and peeked around to see Katz continue to shoot at players.
“I thought I’m already hit twice. If I stay here, this isn’t going to end well for me,” Anselimo said. “I just told myself that I’ve got to make a run for it if I’m going to survive.”
As Anselimo followed fellow gamers running out the door, he was shot a third time.
Later that evening he tweeted from his hospital bed: “Devastated. No Words. Surgery In The Morning. Thanks To All Who Reached Out.”
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He tweeted again Monday before undergoing surgery on his hand: “Still in shock. Woke up crying knowing today’s surgery will determine if I’ll ever be able to play video games again.”
A professional NBA 2K League player and a member of Bucks Gaming, Anselimo was still in the early days of his career. Nevertheless, he was already a rock star in the world of gaming. racking up an impressive series of wins.
His mother, Suhail Lopez, said her heart is breaking for her son.
“Now he may not be able to follow his dreams due to this horrific incident,” she said. “It’s not only sad but it’s unfair that someone’s life can be turned completely upside down due to someone else’s actions. Due to this, he might not be able to have full use of his right hand.”
The Jacksonville competition was one of four qualifying events for the Madden Classic finals. During the tournament, players compete face to face in the popular National Football League video game. The finals were scheduled take place Oct. 11-13 in Las Vegas where gamers would compete for a chance to share a $165,000 prize.
Following the mass shooting, Electronic Arts, which publishes the game, canceled the remaining qualifiers.
With her son’s gaming career now uncertain, Lopez has set up a Go Fund Me account to raise money to help pay her son’s medical expenses. In six days, nearly $11,000 has been donated to the fund.
See related stories:
Jacksonville Mass Shooting: 3 Dead At Madden NFL Gaming Event
David Katz: 7 Things To Know About The Jacksonville Shooter
Jacksonville Mass Shooting: 3 Dead At Madden NFL Gaming Event
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Among the visitors to Timothy Anselimo’s hospital bed was Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
Images via Suhail Lopez
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