A good-looking light-haired shooter arrived in a Hummer and opened fire at Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee, leaving at least six seriously injured. The harrowing incident unfolded on around Thursday noon. One witness, McKenzie Heeter, told NBC News that the unidentified gunman started spraying bullets at both students and staff.
Heeter described the suspect as a white male with fair hair and said that she heard around 15 shots being fired, CNN reported. One gunman has since been neutralized and arrested and taken in handcuffs, although it remains unclear whether he is the same person spotted in the Hummer, as multiple reports claim there were two gunmen on scene.
Tragedy at FSU
X
Heeter further said that the shooter came in an orange t-shirt and khaki shorts, and appeared to be “a typical college guy.” Initial reports from WFTV suggested that there were two shooters and that four people had been killed, with one of the gunmen wounded.
However, the station has since updated its report, saying that six people were seriously wounded, with one in critical condition. All victims are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
There is no official confirmation if there was a second gunman. A press conference is expected to begin soon to provide more information on the shooting.
One witness shared with WFTV that he saw a college-aged male coming out of the student union with a handgun. Another witness told the Tallahassee Democrat that he heard what sounded like “automatic gunfire.”
Moments after gunshots rang out, students received an emergency alert asking them to take shelter. The alert also ensured that cops were either on their way or already at the scene.
Authorities also advised residents in the area to remain indoors, lock their doors, and stay away from windows as the campus was placed under a lockdown.
Multiple videos have been shared on social media that show panicked students running for shelter and seeking safety. Some videos also show personal belongings such as food, picnic blankets, and bags left behind on the grass as students fled the area in panic.
Situation Under Control
X
Following the incident, Florida State University announced that all classes and campus events were canceled for the rest of the day. Meteorology student Garrett Harvey posted a video that captures the chilling moment his classmates ran toward the street as chaos broke out on campus.
Another meteorology student, Ryan Cedergren, said he was at a close to the place where the incident unfolded, writing, “We were just evacuated by police and are safe. Sending fervent prayers to all impacted, and huge thank you to fsu police, Tallahassee police, and everyone who came to help.”
All schools within the Leon County School District near the campus were also placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
FSU Tallahassee, a public university in Florida’s capital city, is located in the state’s panhandle region. The school has nearly 45,000 students and boasts prominent alumni such as actor Burt Reynolds and Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors.
