FSU shooting (updated)

Isabelle Carbajales, Co Feature Editor

Update as of 11/23:

Nathan Scott, one of the two Florida State University students who was being held at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare has been released after being treated for his gunshot wound in the leg. The other victim, Farhan Ahmed remains in critical condition. The shooter, Florida State graduate Myron May, had believed he was a “targeted individual”, otherwise known as someone who believes that the government is attacking them with mind control and invisible weapons.

 

 

At 12:26 a.m., gunshots disturbed the approximate 300 students studying for upcoming final exams at the Florida State University Strozier Library.  At 12:29 a.m., Tallahassee and Florida State campus police arrived at the scene.

When students heard the shots, they ran for cover under tables, between shelves, to the back of the library and to the second floor. The police spoke on the intercom to inform all those in the library to stay where they were.

Florida State sophomore, Madison Schmidt was in the Strozier Library studying for finals when she heard the shots being fired.

“I was on the same floor as the shooting,” said Schmidt. “When my boyfriend and I heard all the commotion, we put our textbooks and bags in front of us and went under the table and slowly started making our way to the back of the room.”

After a few minutes, police informed students that they had the shooter in custody and were treating victims. Later, they notified students that police shot the shooter after he resisted their commands to drop his weapon.

Students were cleared out floor by floor and told to keep their hands up. The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrived at the scene and searched every student with assistance from the Tallahassee and Campus police. Once searched, students were led out a back entrance and into another building, where searched again. After some students were held until around 4:30 a.m., and then allowed to return back into the library to retrieve all of their belongings left behind.

Three Florida State students were wounded in the shooting. Two of the victims are being treated at the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the third student, who was grazed by the bullet, was treated at the scene. Of the two being treated at the health care facility, one is in critical condition and the other is stable.

The motive of the gunman remains unclear and is under investigation.

John Thrasher, president of Florida State University sent out a message regarding the campus shooting informing the community that “The three students who have been injured are our highest priority followed by the needs of our greater university community.” He also reassured the community that there will be extra safety precautions taken today and that although the campus will remain open, all classes are cancelled.

The Counseling Center and Employee assistance is providing help to the Florida State University students and faculty who were affected by the incident.