Gunfire Erupts Near Florida University After Homecoming Game (Video)

A Florida university’s homecoming weekend took a frightening turn Saturday night when gunfire erupted near a packed football stadium, leaving 12 people injured, including six children, as police rushed to help victims and search for those responsible.

The shooting unfolded shortly before 8 p.m. on October 24 near the intersection of Perry and Manatee streets in Tallahassee, just steps from Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium. The university had hosted its annual homecoming football game earlier that evening, drawing crowds to the surrounding area.

According to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell, 11 people suffered gunshot wounds, while a 12th person was injured trying to escape the violence. Six of those hurt were adults and six were minors, with the youngest victim just 11 years old.

Among the injured was a grandmother who was attempting to flee the scene. Revell also indicated that at least one of the victims was believed to be a Florida A&M student, although that information had not been confirmed.

The extent of the violence became clearer as emergency crews transported victims to nearby hospitals. Police initially reported three people with serious injuries, including one in critical condition.

By Sunday morning, five victims had been released from the hospital, while six remained hospitalized. One person was still fighting for their life in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that no deaths had been reported.

Investigators believe a physical confrontation involving two or three individuals may have sparked the shooting, although the circumstances remain unclear. Police have not established whether the dispute was connected to the university’s homecoming festivities.

Revell said approximately two dozen officers were already in the area when the shooting occurred. Some rushed into the scene before it was fully secured, carrying injured victims to safety and helping transport them for emergency medical treatment.

The police chief praised their quick response while expressing concern for the families caught in the violence.

“It is especially heartbreaking to know that children are among those injured,” Revell said.

The shooting also prompted an emergency response from nearby universities. Florida A&M urged people to avoid the area while police investigated, assuring students and staff that the campus remained safe. Florida State University issued a precautionary alert advising members of its community to stay indoors and remain vigilant.

Despite the large police response, no arrests had been announced as of Sunday morning, and authorities had not publicly identified any suspects.

Detectives with the Tallahassee Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit spent the night reviewing evidence, following investigative leads and interviewing potential witnesses. Officers also continued searching the surrounding neighborhood for information that could help establish exactly what happened.

Police have established a dedicated tip line at 850-891-4610 and are encouraging anyone with photographs, videos or firsthand information about the shooting to come forward.

For now, investigators face the difficult task of determining how a confrontation near one of Tallahassee’s best-known college stadiums escalated into gunfire that injured a dozen people, including children who were caught in the violence.