Kids Hit in Shooting

Silhouetted hooded figure holding a handgun
Photo: Bubbers BB / Shutterstock

Eleven people were shot and a dozen injured near Florida A&M University during homecoming weekend, and half of the victims were kids.

Story Snapshot

  • Police say 12 people were injured; 11 suffered gunshot wounds.
  • Six victims were juveniles, the youngest just 11 years old.
  • The shooting happened near Perry and Manatee streets by Bragg Memorial Stadium.
  • Investigators say a fight came before the gunfire; no arrests announced in initial reports.

What Happened Near FAMU And Who Was Hurt

Tallahassee Police Department said at least 12 people were injured on Saturday evening near Florida A&M University. Eleven people had gunshot wounds, and one person was hurt while fleeing. Police briefings said five victims were discharged and six stayed in the hospital as of Sunday. Officials said one person was in critical condition, two were seriously hurt, and others were stable, based on early hospital updates. The human detail that lands hardest is this: six victims were children, down to age eleven.

The scene sits just off campus, not inside it. Police pointed to an area near the corner of Perry Street and Manatee Street, close to Bragg Memorial Stadium, and the timing lined up with homecoming weekend crowds. That distinction matters. Crowds spill across public blocks and private lots during homecoming. Responsibility for safety spreads across city police, campus officers, and event security. The reporting does not say this happened on university property. It happened beside it, during a high-traffic weekend.

How Police Say The Violence Began

Detectives with the Tallahassee Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit said an altercation came before the shots. Early accounts did not name who fought or who fired. That level of detail usually comes later, after video checks, shell-casing matches, and interviews. Police asked for tips and video from anyone nearby. One local report described a grandmother who was injured while running from the chaos, which explains why the total injured exceeds the number shot.

Coverage across outlets locked on the same core facts. The totals matched, the juvenile count matched, and the location matched. That consistency matters in fast-breaking events. It keeps rumor at bay and lets families sort need-to-know from noise. Some medical counts shifted as hospitals updated status, which happens in every major incident. Early numbers are snapshots. The shared backbone of facts stayed firm across reports.

Homecoming Crowds, Open Streets, And Risk

October brings homecoming weekends that draw alumni, students, and locals into tight spaces. Research on shootings on or near campuses shows a seasonal bump in October as crowds grow and events stack up, which can add risk at the edges of campus life. That pattern does not blame a university for crimes committed on public streets. It highlights a planning truth: big gatherings demand layered safety, clear perimeters, and fast coordination between city and campus teams.

American conservative values focus on accountability, order, and protecting kids. This event checks all three boxes for urgent action. Families should know who is in charge on game weekends and which blocks are under whose patrol. City councils and university boards should harden the seams where campus meets the street: visible lighting, mobile camera towers, walk-through screening at chokepoints, and joint patrols before and after games. Those tools are practical, not political, and they work when used with rigor.

What To Watch Next

Police will firm up the timeline: when the fight started, who joined, who fired, and how many guns were used. Detectives will match bullets and casings, pull video from doorbells and lots, and map flight paths. Expect a clearer medical picture as hospitals update conditions. Expect a refined location map that shows property lines and camera coverage. Expect a public call to expand lighting and surveillance near stadium blocks before the next high-traffic weekend. One careful sentence fits here: arrests and final charges were not announced in the early reports.

The Bottom Line For Families And Fans

Parents want to know if their kids can walk to a game and back. Fans want to know if tailgates are safe when the lights go down. The answer depends on basics that never go out of style: controlled entry zones, posted officers where crowds funnel, and firm rules that stop fights before they turn into funerals. This shooting took place near a proud campus during a proud weekend. Pride and prudence can share the same street, but only if leaders insist on it every single time.

Sources:

cbsnews.com, tallahassee.com, wctv.tv, cbs12.com, wtxl.com, fox35orlando.com, kutv.com