Gunman shoots 'five people dead' as university forced into lockdown while students rush from scene
A gunman has killed two people after opening fire at students at a university campus in Florida, whilst five others were injured.The alleged gunman was identified as the 20-year-old son of a Leon County sheriff deputy, police said. He has also been shot.“Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that were found at the scene,” an officer said.Students were ushered away from the student union on Florida State University (FSU) campus in Tallahassee following a shooter alert at midday on Thursday.A view of Florida State University (FSU) campus after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, FloridaReutersTallahassee Memorial Healthcare is receiving and treating people affected by the shooting, Sarah Cannon, a hospital spokeswoman said.Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County said that the suspect was also a “longstanding member of the Leon County sheriff’s office citizen advisory or youth advisory council” and was “engaged in a number of training programmes that we have”.“We will do everything we can to prosecute,” he vowed.Media reports initially suggested that five people have been killed during the shooting with up to six people being treated for injuries.MORE LIKE THIS:Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies rushed to the sceneA woman talks on her phone after being evacuated from Florida State University (FSU) campusReutersAmbulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene following the alert at 5.00pm BST (12.00pm local time).Officials have one person custody in connection to the shooting, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department confirmed to NBC News.“Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding,” the state governor, Ron DeSantis, wrote on X.One FSU student, Meghan, told GB News: "I’ve heard that there are two shooters. One of them has been taken down, by a student that carried a concealed weapon on campus. The other shooter has not been found. "There are at least six people injured, one in critical condition, and five with serious injuries. I’ve seen many videos of people running and people that were shot and it is truly terrifying.Law enforcement work at Florida State University (FSU) campusReutersPeople evacuate Florida State University (FSU) campus Reuters"Law enforcement has started to clear buildings, and the university has cancelled classes."More than 42,000 students attend classes at the main campus.FSU has urged people to avoid certain areas on campus. “Please avoid the Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House and Carraway as they are still considered an active crime scene,” it said in a statement.US President Donald Trump described the incident as a “shame” during his bilateral meeting at the White House with Giorgia Meloni.“I have been briefed on the Florida State University active shooter. It’s a shame,” he said.
