Deadly Mass Shooting At Florida State University in Tallahassee

Well, folks, it’s happened again. Another mass shooting. We’re all sad and angered, but unfortunately, I think no one is truly surprised.

At precisely 12:01 p.m. on April 17, 2025, the Florida State University campus was shattered by gunfire near the Student Union.

The university’s alert system blared warnings: “Active shooter reported. Seek shelter. Lock doors and stay away from windows.”

Chaos ensued as students fled, some hiding behind objects while others barricaded themselves in classrooms. One student reported hearing approximately 15 shots over a 30-second period. A suspect, described as a white male in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, was apprehended shortly before 2:00 p.m. 

Blood on the Campus Green

A shooting near the Student Union at Florida State University on Thursday left two people dead and five others hospitalized—with four individuals in serious condition. The campus was placed on lockdown as law enforcement, including local police, the FBI, and ATF, responded swiftly to secure the area.

A suspect was taken into custody, though authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects. All classes, university events, and athletic activities were canceled through the weekend, and nearby Leon County schools were placed on lockout as a precaution. Students described scenes of confusion and panic as they fled or sheltered in place.

The shooting, which has reignited debate around gun violence, struck a nerve, especially among those who had previously experienced similar tragedies, including survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting. Officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis and President Trump, issued statements of support, while the FSU community awaits further updates and continues to process the day’s events.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror. One student, Ryan Cedergren, hid in a bowling alley with about 30 others after seeing students running from a nearby bar.

Another FSU student reported the following to NBC News:

 “I was walking and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer,” the student said. “And he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction.”

Political Condolences

In the wake of the tragedy, political figures offered condolences. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, called the incident “a horrible thing.”  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed support for the university community and law enforcement. ​

Not The First Time

This is not the first mass shooting at FSU. In 2014, a gunman opened fire at the university’s main library, injuring three people before being killed by police. The recurrence of such violence on the same campus is a sobering reminder of ongoing challenges in campus safety.

Some of the students caught in Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University were also survivors of the 2018 Parkland high school shooting in South Florida. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed at Parkland, noted that several of her classmates now attend FSU—and tragically, some of them were present at the Student Union during this latest attack. It’s a rare and deeply troubling overlap, highlighting the ongoing toll of repeated school shootings in the United States.

In the course of their investigation, law enforcement recovered three firearms connected to the incident: one on the suspect, another in a nearby vehicle, and a third—a shotgun—found inside the Student Union building. The presence of multiple weapons suggests the suspect may have planned the attack in advance, raising more questions as authorities continue to gather details.

VIDEO DIRECT FROM FSU STUDENT:
“Im a current student at Florida State University. This is the video I took while being escorted out by police. I was in class when the shooting started, in the building next to where the Sh*ters were”
Prayers & Pray For them pic.twitter.com/tPrwECfo3R

— Just Lookin (@JustLookingMon) April 17, 2025

Parting Thoughts

Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University is more than another in a series of tragic headlines—it is a gut punch to a generation already carrying more than its share of scars. As noted, some of the students who scrambled for cover near the Student Union had already lived through Parkland. Think about that for a second. Two school shootings before you’re old enough to rent a car. That’s not a gun problem—it’s a cultural sickness, a breakdown in the bonds that hold a society together.

Blame can be tossed in every direction, but it’s the same young people who keep paying the price. The suspect came with more than one weapon, a detail that hints at premeditation and intent, not a spur-of-the-moment outburst, but something darker. A killing plan initiated with cold efficiency.

And now, FSU students are left with memories they never asked for, classrooms that don’t feel safe anymore, and a future shaped by trauma. The answers won’t come easy. But the questions—about security, about mental health, about how we raise our kids—are getting harder to ignore.

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Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. In any shooting scenario, information changes quickly. Check back with SOFREP for more details as they become available. – GDM