Eleven people were shot and a twelfth was hurt fleeing when gunfire ripped through a street near Florida A&M University during homecoming weekend.
Story Snapshot
- Tallahassee police reported 12 injured; 11 had gunshot wounds.
- Six victims were children; the youngest was 11 years old.
- Shooting happened near Perry and Manatee streets by Bragg Memorial Stadium.
- Police said a fight broke out just before the shots rang out.
Gunfire Strikes A Busy Block Steps From Bragg Stadium
The Tallahassee Police Department said gunfire erupted shortly before 8 p.m. near Perry and Manatee streets, close to Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium, during homecoming weekend crowds. Officers reported 12 people injured in total, including 11 with gunshot wounds and one person hurt while running from the scene. Police said one victim was in critical condition, two had serious injuries, and others were stable as of the first updates. The agency’s Violent Crimes Unit led the investigation.
Police briefings said a fight broke out before shots were fired, drawing people into a fast, chaotic rush for cover. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell later said the victims included six adults and six juveniles, with the youngest just 11 years old. Authorities said several victims were discharged while others remained in the hospital during the first day after the incident. The names of victims had not been released at that time due to privacy rules and the ages involved.
Six Children Among The Wounded
Chief Revell’s update put a stark point on the scale of harm: half of the injured were kids, a detail that shook even hardened first responders. That count does not make the event a campus shooting under strict terms. The location sits near the edge of campus, not inside the stadium gates or at a university-run event, according to early accounts. The difference matters for responsibility and fixes. Proximity raises fear and urgency but does not prove that the university controlled the setting or the crowd.
The numbers also carry a key distinction. Reporters and police split the group into 11 gunshot victims and one person injured while fleeing. That detail explains how totals reached 12 without implying 12 gunshot wounds. Early medical reports shifted as hospitals worked through triage, which is common in mass casualty events. The core facts held steady: 12 injured, 11 shot, and a heavy presence from investigators seeking video, witnesses, and casings.
Homecoming Weekend Risk, Without The Hype
Everytown for Gun Safety’s review of shootings on or near college grounds found a spike in October, when homecoming events draw larger, mixed crowds from campus and the wider city. That traffic adds pressure to streets, parties, and parking lots where disputes can flare. The Tallahassee case fits that pattern by time and place, not by proof of a university failure. Police have not said the shooting happened during an official Florida A&M University event, only near it amid the weekend flow.
▫️🚨 Florida A&M Homecoming Shooting Leaves 12 Injured, Including Six Children, as Gunman Remains at Large▫️
🔴 12 People Injured: A shooting during Florida A&M University's homecoming celebrations in Tallahassee, Florida, left 12 people injured, including six children. The…
— Washington Report (@Washington_Rep) October 26, 2026
Public safety demands two things at once: strong policing and clear lines of control. The city and university can expand camera coverage on the blocks feeding into game areas, add bright lighting, and stage joint patrols on high-traffic nights. That is common sense that honors both the right to gather and the duty to keep order. When half the injured are children, adults must act. Swift arrests, tough penalties, and steady prevention should follow as standard practice, not special cases.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, tallahassee.com, wctv.tv, cbs12.com, fox35orlando.com
