Yet another school was rocked by a tragic shooting after a gunman opened fire at a Florida State University campus library.
More than 300 students were said to be occupying the Strozier Library at FSU in preparation for exams when the shooting happened. Students ducked for cover and ran towards exits when the shooting began, with some concealing themselves in book aisles and barricading themselves with desks in the library. Others hid in nearby study rooms.
Unfortunately, the gunman shot three students before being reprimanded by police and killed in a hail of bullets, according to a report by USA Today. Officers responded to the flood of 911 calls swiftly and caught the gunman before he was able to inflict any more harm. After the gunman fired at police officials, they responded with barrage of shots.
One victim is said to be hospitalized and in critical condition, while another is in good condition. A third victim was grazed by a bullet and was treated at the scene. They have since been released.
A statement released by FSU officials and the Tallahassee Police Department describes the shooting as an “isolated incident,” but have yet to release any more details, including how the gunman made it into the Strozier Library. “This person just for whatever reason produced a handgun and then began shooting students in the library,” stated FSU Police Chief David Perry.
Shortly after midnight, students heard about half a dozen gunshots go off throughout the multistory library. Some began screaming that there was a gunman making his way through the building and many students responded by flipping over chairs to take cover, and leaving behind everything as they made their way to the nearest exits. Allison Kope, a freshman who was on the library’s first floor, told the Associated Press: “I ran for my life…I ran right out of the back door. My laptop and everything is still in there. It was shock. It was just instinct. You don’t think about anything else, you just go.”
Another student, Sarah Evans, a senior at the university, heard a male student say that he had been shot. In the midst of a frenzied crowd, Evans turned around to see that was on the ground with blood spreading everywhere from a wound in his leg.
The campus has since been put on lockdown and classes are cancelled for the rest of the day. Florida State’s president, John Thrasher, reportedly told the Associated Press that he was in New York City at the time of the shooting and would return to Tallahassee as soon as possible.
Update: Students gather at Stozier Library for vigil following shooting
