Shooting at Florida State University: 3 hospitalized, gunman shot dead in battle with police

By Justin Moyer and Nick Kirkpatrick November 20 at 1:50 AM   

Florida State University on lockdown. (Courtesy of Nick Claross)

A gunman was shot and killed by police at Florida State University last night after at least three people were wounded in a university library.

Officers confronted the attacker outside Florida State University’s Strozier Library, the AP reported, ordered him to drop his weapon, then shot him dead when he opened fire on them, Tallahassee police said.

The school’s newspaper, FS View, reported the gunman opened fire around 12:30 a.m. at Strozier Library, firing four shots. Of the three injured, at least two were admitted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. The hospital said that one of the victims is in critical condition and another is in stable condition, as WCTV reported. Authorities did not provide information on the condition of the third victim.

Mary Coburn, vice president of student affairs, announced the gunman was shot and killed by FSU police, as FS View reported. The Tallahassee Police Department confirmed the gunman fired on FSU officers, who killed him.

“*FSU ALERT!* Dangerous Situation! Main Campus – Tallahassee,” read a message posted by FSU’s emergency alert system. “Seek shelter immediately, away from doors and windows.”

“It was the most cops I’ve ever seen in my life,” Matthew Paskert, photo editor of the student newspaper, told CNN.

Josh Ferreira tweeted “Such a scary moment. Pray for #FSU” (Courtesy of Josh Ferreira)

Students in the library walked out with their hands up as police swarmed the scene. Parts of the campus remain locked down. Early Wednesday morning, there was no explanation for the shooting.

“It seemed to take students and faculty at least that I’ve heard by complete surprise,” Paskert told The Washington Post. “No one expected this to ever happen here. You see it happen at other schools.”