A fair-haired gunman pulled up in a Hummer then opened fire at Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus leaving six people seriously injured.
The horror unfolded around midday ET Thursday, with witness McKenzie Heeter telling NBC News the as-yet unidentified gunman fired a hail of bullets at students and faculty.
Heeter says the gunman, who she said was white with light hair, fired off 15 rounds. One person has been taken into custody, CNN reported, although it’s unclear if that’s the same man seen in the Hummer.
He was wearing an orange t-shirt, khaki shorts and looked like ‘a normal college dude’, according to Heeter.
Earlier reports from WFTV said two gunmen had killed four victims, with one shooter also injured in the incident. But the broadcaster has now revised its reporting to say six have been injured, one critically and the rest seriously. They are being treated at a local hospital.
Police sources told CNN that they believe there was only one shooter involved, and they said the suspect was shot. They said it is not clear who shot them and their condition is unclear, but they are in custody.
Law enforcement officials have yet to comment on claims about a second shooter, with a press conference set to begin imminently.
A witness on the scene told WFTV they saw a college-aged man exit the student union with a handgun, and another witness told the Tallahassee Democrat that they’d heard what sounded like ‘automatic gunfire.’
Social media was flooded with sickening footage and images as panic set in, including one showing a victim being carried to safety on the shoulders of paramedics.
Cowering students shared videos hiding under desks, as authorities continue to urge anyone in the area to remain away from the area and stay inside.
At least six people have been injured in a mass shooting at Florida State University’s Tallahassee’s campus
Police sources say a gunman opened fire around midday Thursday, sending the campus into lockdown. Survivors are seen being marched away from the scene with their hands raised
Footage showed a victim being carried away by paramedics as panic set in across the campus
Several witnesses shared clips of students fleeing and seeking shelter, with others showing food, picnic blankets and bags that were left on a lawn after students scrambled to safety.
One student shared chilling footage from inside a classroom where people were cowering in fear under desks.
A person could be heard bashing on the door multiple times yelling ‘open up’, but the terrified students were seen remaining silent and not moving in response.
As evacuations were carried out, images showed concerned students and faculty trying to call loved ones on campus, and Florida State University said Thursday afternoon that all classes and events were cancelled for the day.
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said it was treating at least six victims and was ‘fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected.’
As the campus remained under lockdown Thursday afternoon, a grey sedan was reportedly found by police with a weapon inside that authorities believe may have been linked to the shooting. It is unclear if this has any connection to witnesses’ reports of the orange Hummer.
Several firearms including a shotgun and pistol have reportedly been seized by police, and the suspect was arrested with a weapon on them, police said.
One student shared chilling footage from inside a classroom where people were cowering in fear under desks and remaining silent as a person bashes the door yelling ‘open up’
Images showed concerned students and faculty trying to call loved ones on campus
Students were seen comforting each other after the horror shooting
Students seen evacuating on Thursday afternoon
The Tallahassee Fire Department has taken control of the campus, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said it had deployed a helicopter to survey the area. The FBI said Thursday afternoon it was joining the investigation
FSU senior Will Schatz told the Tallahassee Democrat he was in the Strozier Library when he saw his fellow students racing from the building.
‘I could have sworn I saw a cop running after somebody and screaming something when we ran out,’ he said. ‘Then when I got out, I heard seven to eight gunshots. I’m not sure if that was the shooter shooting or if the cops shot the shooter.’
It is not the first time the FSU Tallahassee campus has been hit with a mass shooting, with an alumnus shooting an employee and two students in the Strozier Library in November 2014. The shooter was killed by officers.
Officials said on Thursday afternoon that law enforcement was ‘actively clearing rooms on the main campus’, and said the process could continue for several hours.
The Tallahassee Fire Department has taken control of the campus, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said it had deployed a helicopter to survey the area.
Leon County School District buildings, which sit close to the campus, have also been placed on lockdown.
The FBI said Thursday afternoon it was responding to the scene to aid the investigation.
First responders were seen carrying a victim into an ambulance, with officials saying at least six people were hospitalized in the shooting
Footage showed students fleeing in panic moments after shots rang out across the campus
FSU Tallahassee (seen in a stock image) is located in Florida’s state capital and sits on the Sunshine State’s panhandle, with around 45,000 students
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a statement around two hours after the shooting unfolded that his ‘prayers are with our FSU family.’
President Trump added soon after that he had been ‘fully briefed’ on the shooting.
FSU Tallahassee is a public college located in Florida’s state capital and sits on the Sunshine State’s panhandle.
It has around 45,000 students, with movie star Burt Reynolds and The Doors singer Jim Morrison among its famous alumni.
