It’s something that we only hear about on the news, at universities far away from us. But on November 20th, it happened here at home.
A little before 12:30 a.m., barely into the start of November 20, 2014, a gunman walked into Strozier library and opened fire. There are three confirmed victims: two students were shot and taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. A nearby security guard was grazed with a bullet, treated on scene, and released.
Friends of the victims say that one has been released from Tallahassee Memorial and is recovering at home, while the other victim is still in critical condition.
Unable to get past the turnstiles, the gunman then walked outside of the library and began firing at police, who had been called at 12:25 a.m. When he refused to drop his weapon, a .380 semi-automatic handgun, police shot and killed the gunman outside of the library at 12:27 a.m. His body remained on the access ramp for several hours while the police investigated, and a grey baseball cap was nearby.
Over 30 rounds were fired that morning, including those fired by police and the gunman.
The gunman was later identified as Myron May, an FSU graduate and lawyer. He graduated from Florida State in 2005, and then from Texas Tech’s law school in 2009. May moved back to the area a few weeks ago, and was staying in the home of a well-known aid worker.
Students inside did not know how to react. When the first shot was fired, there was a general consensus that maybe something had been dropped. After the second shot was fired, students began to pay attention. Nathan Scott, a victim who had been shot in the leg, hobbled into the main part of the first floor to tell students to run and hide. A cell phone video taken at the scene quotes him saying, “It’s bleeding. It hurts.”
Image courtesy of FSView
Students began barricading themselves in rooms, behind bookshelves, and running up to other floors. Some students ran out of the building to their cars to go home, Many students in the study rooms began writing goodbye notes to their friends and family on the white boards.
When the police began to assist students in the library, they began to evacuate floor-by-floor, beginning with students on the first floor. Orders were to: put your hands in the air when you saw police, stay where you are, and patiently await evacuation.
During the evacuation, many students left their things behind. Students can return to Strozier library to collect their things with police assistance.
In the wake of the shooting, survival stories have begun to emerge.
One student was saved by his textbooks. Targeted first by the shooter, Jason Derfuss ran in the opposite direction, a backpack full of books on his back. He heard a shot, but didn’t think about it being directed at him. He later opened his backpack to find a bullet and books shot clean through.
Another student, Blair Stokes, decided to keep the FSU community informed by live tweeting what was happening on scene. In the search for information and updates, hundreds of students followed Blair (@blairstokes) that morning, and her tweets received hundreds of retweets and favorites.
Image courtesy of FSView
The university response to this tragic event has been swift and overwhelming. Although classes were cancelled for the 20th, the University remained open and the available services were stressed to students. The Counseling Center, along with many other student services was open and ready to receive students. Many other departments opened their doors to conversation and comfort, like the Center for Leadership and Social Change.
There were also several vigils and gathering throughout the day, giving students, faculty, and community members the opportunity to mourn and grieve together.
Stay strong, FSU. We are Unconquered.