The 7th Seed // 042

The world of Esports (“Electronic Sports”) has become one of the fastest growing communities of our lifetime. Professional video game tournaments clock in over 500 million views from the biggest competitions on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. But what happens when something goes wrong at one of these events and the whole world is watching, live? No one could have anticipated the horrors that would unfold mid-day, at an unsuspecting video game bar in Jacksonville, Florida. Yet, in a world that demands instant internet gratification, fastest upload speeds, and 4K game play... perhaps we should be careful what we wish for. We often overlook the isolated environment in which gamers subject themselves to. It’s easy to miss very real mental-health warning signs when enthralled and caught up in the realm “virtual reality.” When we fail to recognize these signals, how do the repercussions of one man’s actions affect our safety? When gunshots rang out over the livestream on August 26, 2018 - broadcasting live to hundreds of viewers during a professional Madden tournament, everyone ran for their lives. This is a deep dive into the mind of one desperate gamer, lost in his delusions. David Katz was willing to do anything it took to prove he was the best- even if that meant taking the lives of innocent people to get there.

Written by Michael Dunphy Jr., Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. Special thanks to Marquis Williams & Taylor Poindexter

This episode of Invisible Choir is proudly sponsored by Stereo.  Download the Stereo app on the Apple App Store or on Google Play, and follow @InvisibleChoir when we go live Mondays and Thursdays! 

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Music & Sound Effect Sources

  • Opening Track: “Redress” by Lincoln Davis

  • Closing Track: “Intuition” by Lincoln Davis

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com


Invisible Choir AdminMurder-Suicide, Gun Violence, Live-Stream, Mental IllnessComment