TWO people were killed and 11 others wounded when a video game tournament competitor went on a shooting rampage before turning the gun on himself in the northern Florida city of Jacksonville.

David Katz, 24, has been identified as the suspect shooter at an online gaming tournament at the Jacksonville Landing complex that was partially captured on a horrifying live stream.

The names of some of the two victims have emerged on social media.

Tributes are pouring in for pro gamers Elijah Clayton, 22, and Taylor Robertson, 27 — better known by their screen names Trueboy and Spotme.

Katz carried out the shooting at the popular waterfront dining and shopping precinct at around 1.34pm on Sunday (local time), police said.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams confirmed that Katz is from Baltimore and had travelled to the city for the tournament.

The games maker, EA Sports, lists a David Katz as a 2017 championship winner.

He has used the names Bread, mrslicedbread, ravenschamp and ravens2012champ in Madden competitions.

Katz carried out the attack using at least one handgun believed to be a semiautomatic.

His car was seized by police near the scene.

According to Steven “Steveyj” Javaruski a competitor lost it after losing in the tournament.

He “targeted a few people” and shot at least five victims before killing himself, Javaruski told The Los Angeles Times in a direct message on Twitter.

Javaruski said he was able to get out of the venue with a police escort.

Javaruski later tweeted: “RIP to Trueboy and Spotme,” adding “This is the worst day of my life.”

Another witness, Javaris Long, told the Tampa Bay Times that the suspect was “nerdy” and got mad because he lost, so he went to his car, got his gun, came back and “started blasting everybody.”

Sheriff Williams said federal authorities raided a house at South Baltimore as part of the investigation into the shooting.

He appealed for anyone with videos or information of the incident to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

LIVE STREAM CAPTURED SHOOTING
The event, which will culminate in a Las Vegas event with $US125,000, was being shown on Twitch, a live streaming video platform.

A red dot that appeared to be a laser pointer was visible on the chest of a player seconds before the first of a dozen gunshots rang out.

After several gunshots, people scream and one person cried out, “Oh f---, what’d he shoot me with?” The stream did not show the shooting.

Dozens of ambulances and police cars arrived at the scene of the shooting within two minutes.

The sheriff’s office said many people were transported to hospital, and its deputies found many others hiding in locked areas.

Six victims were taken to Jacksonville’s UF Health Hospital, five of them in stable condition and one in serious condition, hospital staff said.

A spokesman for Jacksonville’s Memorial Hospital said it was treating three victims, all of whom were in stable condition.

Sheriff Williams said of the injured nine suffered gunshot wounds and two were hurt while fleeing.

An injured gamer identified as Larry Legend was pictured recovering in hospital after being shot three times.

His mother Sujeil tweeted a photo of him in hospital surrounded by a group of other males believed to have escaped the shooting themselves.

She also shared a photo showing of her son receiving a bedside visit from Florida’s Governor Rick Scott.

Marquis Williams, 28, and his girlfriend, Taylor Poindexter, 26, both from Chicago, were ordering pizza at the bar when they heard the gunfire.

Williams said people trampled each other in the panic while trying to get away.

“Initially we thought it was a balloon popping, but there weren’t any balloons in the room. Then we heard repeat shots and we took off running,” said Williams, who participated in the tournament earlier.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said he had offered to provide local authorities with any state resources they might need.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said US President Donald Trump has been briefed but the president is yet to respond to the shooting.

Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, has tweeted her condolences.

SHOOTING REIGNITES GUN OUTRAGE
The Florida shooting occurs amid a debate about US gun laws that was given fresh impetus by the massacre in February of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Two years ago a gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

It didn’t take long for some Democratic candidates for governor to issue statements on the shooting.

Ahead of Tuesday’s primary election, in which voters will pick the Republican and Democratic nominees to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott, former US Rep. Gwen Graham sent an email to supporters that said the only way to end mass shootings is to “vote out the politicians complicit in this cycle of death.”

Florida Senator Bill Nelson expressed “shock” and “outrage”.

Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine also released a statement saying, “I am horrified and I am furious” and that it’s time for new leaders.

Video game manufacturer Electronic Arts tweeted: “This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved.”

Creator of Drama Alert identified only as ‘Keem’ was concerned the sport would cop blame for the murder spree.

The NFL released an official statement in support of their sporting partners.

Former NFL quarterback and current professional baseball outfielder in the New York Mets Tim Tebow also tweeted his support.