A shooting near Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, left 12 people injured on Saturday night, October 24, during the university's homecoming weekend — including six juveniles, the youngest just 11 years old. Eleven of the injured suffered gunshot wounds; police say no one has been arrested and no suspect has been named.
File photo: Bragg Memorial Stadium at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee. The shooting happened on streets near the stadium after the homecoming game. (Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
What Happened
Police were called to the area of Perry Street and Manatee Street, near Bragg Memorial Stadium, shortly before 8 p.m. local time on Saturday — several hours after Florida A&M's homecoming football game had ended at the nearby stadium. The Rattlers had lost 31-28 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier in the evening.
According to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell, who spoke at a late-night press conference, preliminary information indicates an altercation occurred between individuals before the shooting. "I stand before you tonight devastated," Revell said, adding that investigators believe the incident was "an isolated incident between two or three individuals and nothing more than that."
The Victims
Of the 12 injured, six are adults and six are juveniles, with the youngest victim just 11 years old. At least one of the injured is believed to be a Florida A&M student. The twelfth victim is the grandmother of one of the victims, who was injured while fleeing the scene.
At least three victims sustained serious injuries, including one in critical condition; the others were reported to be in stable condition. Revell said the presence of children among the victims was "especially heartbreaking" and added: "No family should have to experience this kind of violence, this kind of fear, this kind of heartbreak."
He also praised first responders, saying officers carried victims in their arms to transport because they could not get through the mass of people, and appealed for crowds to disperse so officers could reach victims.
File photo: Inside Bragg Memorial Stadium, home of the Florida A&M Rattlers. (Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Investigation Underway
The Tallahassee Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit is investigating. No arrests had been announced and police had not named a suspect or person of interest as of early Sunday. Investigators have not established what led to the dispute, and authorities have not said the shooting was connected to the university or the homecoming game itself.
Florida A&M University issued a safety alert urging people near Bragg Memorial Stadium and Perry Street to avoid the area or shelter in place while officers dealt with the incident.
Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department at 850-891-4200 or Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.
Why This Matters
Homecoming weekends draw students, alumni and visitors to university towns across America, and large post-game crowds can become difficult to police. The Tallahassee shooting follows a pattern of gun violence erupting at crowded public gatherings in the US — and the fact that half the victims here are juveniles, including an 11-year-old, has drawn particular attention. Police stress this appears to be a dispute between a small number of individuals rather than a wider attack, but with no arrests yet, that assessment remains preliminary.
FAQs
Where did the shooting happen?
Near Perry Street and Manatee Street, close to Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 24.
How many people were injured?
12 people — 11 suffered gunshot wounds and one was injured while fleeing. Six are adults and six are juveniles; the youngest victim is 11 years old.
Has anyone been arrested?
No. As of early Sunday, police had made no arrests and had not named a suspect or person of interest.
Was the shooting connected to the homecoming game?
Authorities have not said so. The game had ended hours earlier, and police describe the shooting as an isolated incident stemming from an altercation between two or three individuals.
What is the condition of the victims?
At least three victims sustained serious injuries, including one in critical condition; the others were reported to be in stable condition.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee Police Department.