A 20-year-old Florida State University student who was identified as the son of a sheriff's deputy opened fire on campus Thursday just before noon, killing two people and injuring multiple others, according to police.
The suspect started shooting just before noon using a handgun that he had access to from his mother, who is a sheriff's deputy with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, according to Leon Sheriff Walt McNeil. Police said the shooter acted alone, and a motive is unknown at this time.
A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare told the Scripps News Group on Thursday that it was treating six patients in relation to the shooting, ranging from serious to critical condition. In an update on Friday, the hospital said all victims were in stable condition.
Police said the suspected shooter was transported to the hospital with injuries after being "neutralized" by campus officers.
McNeil said the suspect's mother is not currently on leave from the sheriff's office. He added that the suspected shooter is also a longstanding member of the sheriff's office youth advisory council.
"He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have, so it's not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons," McNeil said.
Police said the suspect also had a shotgun that was recovered from the scene, but at this point in the investigation, they do not believe the shotgun was used during the shooting.
The school's alert system ordered students and faculty to seek shelter and await further instructions, just after the shooting began. It also stated that law enforcement was responding to the Student Union area.
Campus police engaged with the suspect "almost immediately," according to police.
About three hours later, the Tallahassee Police Department said on X that the campus had been secured, but it was still an active crime scene as the investigation is ongoing.
FSU said in a statement Thursday evening that all families of victims had been contacted.
Scripps News Group Correspondent Forrest Saunders saw multiple ambulances at the scene with possible victims, including one that appeared to be the suspect being transported as officers were observed placing shackles on the person.
I have seen multiple injured being loaded into ambulances outside the Student Union. One man was shackled by law enforcement before being taken from the scene. pic.twitter.com/OfzKCxuB1J
— Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) April 17, 2025
The Tallahassee Police Department said a student reunification point was being established at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Jacksonville branch said agents are working with local law enforcement to assist in the investigation.
Speaking from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the situation and called it a "shame" and "a horrible thing."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted to X, "Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding."
This is the second time over the last decade that Florida State University has had an active shooter on campus. In 2014, a 31-year-old gunman opened fire near the main campus library and injured three people before he was killed by police.
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