Three students were wounded by a male suspect who opened fire on the Florida State University campus before being shot dead by responding officers Wednesday night, Tallahassee police said.
Speaking at a press conference early Thursday morning, authorities said the suspect, who was not identified, refused to put down his firearm when confronted by officers near the library and instead fired at them, forcing authorities to return fire and fatally wound him.
Police did not list a possible motive for the suspect and only identified the firearm used as a handgun. Officials said the campus had been secured and there was no longer a threat to students.
Police investigate a shooting at Strozier Library on Florida State campus on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital said in a statement they had received two victims and listed one in critical condition and the other as stable.
Police said the other victim was treated at the scene and then released.
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on two received patients:
* 1 victim in critical condition
* 1 victim in stable condition
— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW) November 20, 2014
Florida State University officials canceled Thursday classes in the wake of the incident and released a statement saying the campus was "extremely saddened" by the incident.
“What this community needs … is prayer,” Mayor Elect Andrew Gillum said at a press conference.
Video posted online appeared to capture authorities brief students inside the library moments after the shooting, instructing individuals to only dial 911 if it concerned an injury or to report anyone with a gun.
Moments after shots rang out, an Instagram user posted audio that appeared to be taken from inside the library. It was captioned with a note that a gunman was inside the library and pleaded for someone to “please call the police.”
That same user later posted additional audio appearing to capture officers instructing students to exit the library with their hands up. He later said he made it out safely.
IMAGE: Student sends her father, @jbjpublisher, text message saying she loves him after hearing gunshots go off pic.twitter.com/yLbQDbu4X6
— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW) November 20, 2014
The president and publisher of the Jacksonville Business Journal tweeted out a text message he said his daughter sent him the moment she heard gunshots.
"There's a man with a gun in the library," she wrote. "I love you."
Not sure when I'll stop shaking.
— Blair Stokes (@blairstokes) November 20, 2014
Another student, Blair Stokes, said it was the "scariest night" of her life.
"Not sure when I'll stop shaking," she tweeted.
This story was last updated at 6:38 a.m. ET.
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Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter
