Gunman Shoots 3 Students at Florida State University Campus Before Being Taken Out by Police
A gunman who shot and wounded three students at the Florida State University campus library early Thursday morning has been shot dead by police.
"This is an isolated incident and one person acting alone," Tallahassee police Chief Michael DeLeo said, according to CNN. "There's no indication of any further threat to anybody."
"Obviously, everyone wants to know why," he added. "That's the hard answer we're going to continue to investigate."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
University police who confronted the gunman ordered him to drop his weapon, but he reportedly started firing again, which prompted them to shoot him down, police spokesman Dave Northway explained.
The shooting forced hundreds inside the library to flee or take cover in panic.
The three students who were wounded by the gunman are being treated by medical professionals, CBS News reported.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said that at least two of the victims were brought there, with one in critical condition, and the other in stable condition.
It's unclear whether the gunman was also a student, or why he may have carried out the attack.
Witness accounts noted that the shooting started sometime after midnight, inside or near the college library, which is open 23 hours.
"The library was packed," said Mary Coburn, vice president of student affairs, revealing that there were between 300 to 400 students inside studying for final exams.
"If there's any positive news we can take from this occurrence is that the victim count was not greater," added the city's Mayor-elect Andrew Gillum.
FSU had sent out warning texts to students, urging them to take refuge and stay away from windows.
"FSU alert dangerous situation main campus-Tallahassee," the message read. "Seek shelter immediately, away from doors and windows."
Perry Kostidakis, a sports editor for the campus newspaper, revealed that the library was surrounded for a time.
"The entire campus is empty; I've seen one or two people come up and look at the scene. Everyone who is in a campus building is under lockdown right now. Policemen are still surrounding the library," Kostidakis said.
Another witness, freshman Nikolai Hernandez, said that he was in his dorm room across from the library when he heard five or six rapid gunshots.
"It was a consecutive bop, bop, bop, bop, bop," Hernandez said. "It makes me definitely a little bit nervous. I was supposed to be in the library. I had a paper to do and I got a little bit lazy and decided not to do it."
FSU has cancelled all classes on Thursday in response to the shooting.
University President John Thrasher wrote in a statement:
"The Florida State University community is extremely saddened by the shootings that took place early this morning at Strozier Library, in the very heart of campus, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those who have been affected," Thrasher said on the FSU website.
"The three students who have been injured are our highest priority followed by the needs of our greater university community. We will do everything possible to assist with their recovery."
