Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was met with boos and jeers during a prayer vigil held for the victims of a recent mass shooting in Jacksonville.

The incident occurred on Sunday, August 27, 2023, as the governor attempted to address the crowd gathered to mourn the tragic loss of life.

The vigil was held just a block away from the Jacksonville Dollar General store, located in a predominantly black neighborhood, where the horrific shooting took place.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, opened fire on innocent civilians the previous day, using legally purchased firearms, despite a past involuntary commitment for a mental health examination, in 2017.

Governor DeSantis traveled to the vigil to express his condolences to the victims’ families and was interrupted by loud boos from the crowd as he delivered his remarks. This was captured in multiple videos by attendees and reported by the Associated Press.

Despite the hostile reception, DeSantis remained resolute in his message.

He condemned the shooter, referring to him as a “major league scumbag,” and declared his actions as “totally unacceptable in the state of Florida.”

The governor also assured the crowd that Florida would not tolerate racially motivated violence, stating, “We are not going to let people be targeted based on their race.”

In an attempt to quell the unrest, Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, who spoke before DeSantis, appealed to the crowd to listen to the governor’s address.

She reminded the audience that tragedy transcends political affiliations, saying, “It ain’t about parties today. A bullet don’t know a party.”

The governor also announced plans for the state to provide funding for security at Edward Waters University and to assist the victims’ families. The victims of the shooting were identified as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, A.J. Laguerre, 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29.

Authorities revealed Palmeter left behind a manifesto filled with white supremacist writings, indicating a racial motive behind the attack. Sheriff T.K. Waters described the writings as the “diary of a madman” and stated Palmeter “hated black people.”