Two
killed and at least six injured in Florida State University shooting; suspect
is sheriff deputy’s son, authorities confirm. Campus threat neutralized.
Tallahassee,
Florida – April 17, 2025 — A tragic shooting on the campus of Florida State
University (FSU) left two people dead and at least six others injured Thursday,
after a gunman opened fire near the student union, prompting a campus-wide
lockdown.
Authorities
confirmed the suspect is the 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy, who
allegedly used one of his mother’s firearms in the attack. The suspect is now
in custody, according to Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.
The
attack took place around midday, with students and staff sheltering in place
for hours as emergency alerts rang out across campus. FSU later said the threat
has been neutralized, but police continue to treat the campus as an active
crime scene.
“I was
walking and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer,” one student told NBC News.
“He gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction.”
Students
quickly turned to survival mode, with photos from classrooms showing makeshift
barricades of chairs and desks stacked against doors.
Victims
and Investigation
At least
six victims are receiving treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare,
hospital officials confirmed. Their conditions have not yet been released.
The
suspect, whose name has not been released due to the ongoing investigation,
reportedly had access to weapons through his mother’s role as a deputy in the
sheriff’s department. Investigators are now examining how the weapon was
obtained.
Authorities
are working to determine the suspect’s motive and whether the victims were
targeted.
“This is
a tragedy not just for the families involved, but for the entire FSU and
Tallahassee community,” Sheriff McNeil said.
University
officials urged students to remain vigilant, and classes have been suspended
until further notice.