Florida State University Gunman Killed By FSU Campus Police

November 20, 2014: Emergency personnel respond to a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee (Courtesy WCTV)

Three students were wounded in a library on the campus of Florida State University early Thursday by a gunman who was killed by campus police. At around 12:30 AM ET, Florida State University Police Department received a call about an armed subject at the Strozier Library, according to Tallahassee police. On the way to the call, officers received word that one person was shot by the gunman.

When the officers arrives, they located the gunman in the library near the entrance to the building. The suspect ignored police orders to drop his weapon, and instead turned to fire on police who returned fire and killed the man.

In a press conference Thursday morning, police said that the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is not further threat on campus. They said a third victim was grazed, but that the student was treated at the scene and released.

A nursing supervisor at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare told the Associated Press that the hospital was treating two people for gunshot wounds early Thursday. One patient was reported as critical and the other in stable condition. Hospital officials had no information about whether they could expect more patients.

At 4:00 AM ET, the campus sounded the “all clear” and detectives could still be seen inspecting the shooter’s body outside of the library.

“You never think something like this is going to happen to you until you have to react in that situation when someone is screaming there is a gun in the building. I ran for my life,” said Allison Kope, a freshman from Cocoa Beach. “I ran right out the backdoor. My laptop and everything is still in there. It was shock. It was just instinct. You don’t think about anything else, you just go.”

A telephone alert from the university urged people to stay away from doors and windows. The alert provided no details of what sparked the warning. FSUNews.com reported that students were on lockdown in a second library and in the university dormitories.

Florida State President John Thrasher, who took office earlier this month said in a statement Thursday the community is saddened by the events.

“The three students who have been injured are our highest priority followed by the needs of our greater university community. We will do everything possible to assist with their recovery.”

University officials said campus will remain open Thursday, but all classes are cancelled.