Florida State University is back open—a day after a gunman opened fire at the school’s Strozier Library. As FSU tries to get back to normal, an investigation into the shooting continues.
In the hours after three people were shot at FSU’s Strozier library, people gathered on the campus in a prayer vigils and rallies to show their support for the university. FSU Sophomore Gillian Newman says the shooting has shaken the campus community.
“You just don’t think it can happen so close to home, that this beautiful campus that nothing bad can happen. It’s really eye-opening.”
Florida State University and Tallahassee police continue investigating what drove FSU alum and gunman Myron May to open fire at Strozier around 12:30 am Thursday. More than 450 students were present inside the library at the time. Video from inside the building during the shooting show students hiding behind walls of books. FSU Police Chief David Perry says officers recently completed a training on what to do if a shooting occurred on campus.
“Thirteen days ago the FSU police department conducted active shooter training for situations and incidents just like this. So officers had a good memory marker on how to respond and what was appropriate for this type of situation," he said.
May, an FSU alumnus and attorney, had recently returned to Tallahassee from Texas where he graduated from Texas Tech’s law school in 2009. His facebook page show posts quoting the Bible, as well as a reference to Targeted Individuals. He was a member of a facebook group by the same name, and TPD Police Chief Mike DeLeo says he believes May was in a crisis.
“Based on our initial review of some of the documents and videos and his postings, its clear Mr. May’s sense of being and place in our community was not was most people would refer to as a normal status," DeLeo said. "He was searching for something.”
People who know May have described him as a good person and are expressing shock at the shootings.
May shot an employee inside the library’s lobby but was unable to get any further. Two people, students—were shot outside the library. It’s still unclear whether May fired his gun at officers before they fatally shot him.
There were only two minutes between the time the first 911 calls came in, to the time police shot May, and state and local officials have commended both FSU and TPD for the quick response time. Meanwhile, Students, faculty and staff continued to rally late into the night Thursday.Classes resume today and all of FSU is open—including the Strozier library.
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