A shooting near Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, left 11 people with gunshot wounds on Saturday night. Six of the victims were juveniles, including an 11-year-old child, police said. No deaths had been reported by Sunday morning.
The gunfire took place on Perry Street, near the university campus and its football stadium. It happened several hours after a homecoming football game at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Police have not confirmed whether the shooting was connected to the game.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell shared the first details during a news conference late Saturday. He said early findings suggested the shooting may have started after a fight involving two or three people.
Police are now working to learn what led to the violence and identify those responsible. The department’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
Six Juveniles Among the Victims
Authorities confirmed that six of the people shot were under 18. One of the youngest victims was just 11 years old. Police have not released the names or ages of the other juvenile victims.
A grandmother of one of the victims also suffered an injury while trying to escape the scene. Officials have not shared more information about her condition.
By Sunday morning, five people who had been shot were released from the hospital. Six others remained in hospital care. One of those patients was in critical condition, police said.
Officials have not reported any deaths. However, the condition of the critically injured person remains a concern as the investigation continues.
Police have not announced any arrests or named a suspect. Detectives are reviewing evidence and speaking with people who may have seen what happened.
The shooting has caused concern because it took place near a university after a large public event. The number of victims, including several children and teens, has also drawn attention to the incident.
Gunfire Followed Homecoming Football Game
The shooting happened after a homecoming game between the Florida A&M Rattlers and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions. The teams met at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff won the game 31-28. The shooting took place off campus, on Perry Street, hours after the match ended.
Investigators have not found a confirmed link between the game and the gunfire. Police are still working to establish whether the fight described by Chief Revell involved people who attended the event.
Florida A&M University is a historically Black university with nearly 10,000 students. Homecoming activities had been taking place throughout the previous week. The final events were scheduled for Sunday.
Homecoming is a major event for many universities. It can bring students, former students, families and other visitors together for sports and social activities. Police have not said whether the shooting affected the university’s remaining plans.
Officials have also not shared whether the people involved in the incident were students or visitors. The department is continuing to gather facts before offering further details.
Detectives Ask Witnesses to Share Information
The Tallahassee Police Department said detectives had reviewed digital evidence and searched the surrounding area for useful information. Police shared an update on the investigation on Sunday.
The department’s Violent Crimes Unit will continue to examine the evidence and follow up on possible leads. Investigators are also asking members of the public to report anything they know about the shooting.
Police said even a small detail could help them understand what happened. People who witnessed the incident or have recordings and other evidence can submit information through a police tip hotline or an online evidence portal.
The department has not announced a motive. It also has not confirmed whether a weapon has been recovered or whether more than one person fired shots.
Detectives are expected to continue reviewing the available evidence as they work to identify those responsible. Police have urged anyone with information to contact investigators.
Shooting Adds to Wider Gun Violence Concerns
The incident comes amid continued gun violence across the United States. The Gun Violence Archive had recorded at least 383 mass shootings in the country so far this year, according to the figures cited in the original report.
The organization defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are shot, not including the shooter. This definition is used to track incidents that affect several victims in a single event.
The Tallahassee shooting fits that definition because 11 people suffered gunshot wounds. The victims’ injuries also show the impact such incidents can have on families and the wider community.
For now, police are focused on the victims’ recovery and the search for those involved. Authorities have not confirmed a connection to the homecoming football game, and the possible fight remains an early line of inquiry.
Investigators are asking witnesses to come forward as they work to establish the facts. Further updates may clarify what caused the shooting and whether anyone will face charges.
