TALLAHASSEE – A gunman opened fire Thursday at Florida State University, killing two people and wounding at least five others, police said.
The 20-year-old gunman was the son of a sheriff’s deputy whose former service weapon was used in the shooting, authorities said.
The two people who died were not students at the university, but the shooter is believed to be a student, Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower.
Six people were being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Trumbower said, and the shooter was also receiving medical attention.
One student said, “people were going everywhere.”
“We just kind of went in the corner and hid behind some trash cans,” he said. “And then I would say about 5, 10 minutes later, cops came in, everyone had their hands up, they all checked us and now we’re here waiting.”
Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the union’s lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar.
“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.
After about 15 minutes, university police escorted the students out of the building, and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said.
Jake Nair, a senior at Florida State University, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place.
“He ran outside with his gun out,” Nair said. “Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library.”
After receiving warnings of an active shooter, students and faculty across the campus were locked down in classrooms and sheltered in offices and dorm rooms.
“I’m in shock, you know, it’s so hard to believe,” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center. “The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?”
Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional, while others hugged each other. Dozens gathered near the music school, waiting for news.