Tallahassee shooting injures at least 12 near Florida A&M

At least 12 people, including six juveniles, were injured in a shooting near Florida A&M University in Tallahassee during homecoming weekend on Saturday, October 24. The gunfire occurred just before 8 p.m. near Perry and Manatee streets, according to Tallahassee police.

Eleven people suffered gunshot wounds. The twelfth person was hurt running from the scene, Police Chief Lawrence Revell said at a briefing just after midnight Sunday, according to WCTV. That explains the difference between reports of 11 people shot and 12 people injured: the figures describe different categories within the same incident.

At least three of the shooting victims had serious injuries, the city said in its statement describing conditions at 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The 12 people injured included six adults and six juveniles. Revell said the youngest was 11 years old, WCTV reported. Police cautioned that their information was preliminary and subject to change.

The shooting followed a football game in a crowded area near the university’s stadium, the Associated Press reported. Revell said he believed one victim was a FAMU student, according to WCTV. The overall injury count is not a confirmed count of university students; proximity to campus does not establish the victims’ affiliations.

For students, families and others nearby, the university’s safety messages addressed both the campus and the particular area where police were working. FAMU issued an alert at 8:40 p.m. Saturday advising people to shelter in place and avoid the area near Bragg Stadium, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. WCTV also reported the initial advice to avoid the area or shelter in place if nearby.

In a follow-up university post, FAMU again asked people to avoid the area as Tallahassee police investigated. A fuller university statement reproduced by the Democrat said the “campus remains safe” while retaining the request to stay away from the affected area. That reassurance was not an explicit all-clear withdrawing the earlier shelter advice.

Revell told the Democrat that officers carried injured people to transport because they could not get through the crowd. The university’s later statement likewise asked people to avoid the area so law enforcement could conduct its investigation.

At the briefing shortly after midnight Sunday, October 25, Revell said no arrests had been made, WCTV reported. Sunday was the date of that briefing; the shooting occurred Saturday evening. Police said preliminary findings indicated a physical altercation before the gunfire. That account comes from investigators, and its repetition across news reports does not independently establish the circumstances or a motive.

The police department’s Violent Crimes Unit was assigned to determine what happened and identify those responsible. Police asked witnesses and anyone with information to call 850-891-4200, or contact Crime Solvers anonymously at 850-574-TIPS.