Mass Shooting Mars Florida A&M Homecoming; 12 Injured, Including Children
Violence erupted near Bragg Memorial Stadium during homecoming celebrations, leaving six juveniles among the injured.
A mass shooting near Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday night injured at least 12 people, including six juveniles as young as 11, during the university's homecoming celebrations. Three victims sustained serious injuries, with one in critical condition, while the remaining eight were reported to be in stable condition.
A twelfth person, identified as the grandmother of one of the victims, was injured while fleeing the scene amid widespread panic. The shooting occurred shortly before 8 p.m. near the intersection of Perry and Manatee streets, adjacent to the stadium. Investigators believe a fight between individuals may have preceded the gunfire.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell expressed devastation at the incident during a late-night news conference. As of his update, no arrests had been made, and authorities had not identified any suspects or determined the cause of the initial confrontation.
The violence unfolded shortly after Florida A&M's football team, the Rattlers, lost their homecoming game. Large crowds were still present in the surrounding streets when the shooting occurred. Social media videos depicted the chaotic aftermath, with officers seen carrying injured individuals and providing aid amidst scenes of confusion.
Chief Revell highlighted the challenges faced by first responders, noting that officers had to carry some victims to safety due to the inability of emergency vehicles to navigate through the dense crowds.
Witness accounts described moments of terror as people scrambled to escape the gunfire. One individual wrote on Facebook that their children and their friends were crying, and they were trying to pull other children to safety. Another witness described a desperate scramble, with people running, falling, and hiding.
The incident prompted neighboring Florida State University to issue a campus-wide warning advising students, faculty, and staff in Tallahassee to remain indoors as a precautionary measure, though they stated there was no indication of FSU community involvement.
By 9:45 p.m., Tallahassee police reported that the scene had been secured. Florida A&M University released a statement expressing condolences to the victims and those affected, while encouraging people to avoid the area to facilitate the ongoing investigation.