Sean Rossman, and Karl Etters

Update: 5 p.m.

One of the victims in the shooting at Strozier Library this morning voluntarily made a statement this afternoon through Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Nathan Scott said he was shot in the leg and is currently recovering at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare with his family by his side. Scott is currently listed in good condition, according to a TMH news release.

Update 5 p.m.

Myron May, the gunman who opened fire outside FSU's Strozier Library this morning, started shooting students outside the building about 12:30 a.m., said Tallahassee Police Department Chief Michael DeLeo.

"He then enters the front of the library," DeLeo said in an afternoon news conference, "where he shoots one employee and tried to shoot another woman who was affiliated with the university. He then reloads his gun."

"He never proceeds past the security measures that are in place at the library," DeLeo continued. "He never leaves the front lobby area. He then exits the library, where he's confronted by FSU police officers and Tallahassee Police Department officers. He refuses to surrender. As a result of this encounter, Mr. May is shot and killed by the officers."

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Update:3:12 p.m.

Myron May, the suspected FSU gunman, and law enforcement fired more than 30 rounds after May shot three students at Strozier Library this morning.

TPD Chief Michael DeLeo, during an afternoon news conference, said May was in a state of personal crisis, which he described as someone who is "struggling either psychologically or emotionally."

He said 50 to 70 officers responded to the shooting. Among the injured was an FSU employee.

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Update 3:05 p.m.

TPD Chief Michael DeLeo said Myron May had written journals and videos in which he expressed concern about "being targeted." Evidence found so far indicates May was in a state of crisis, DeLeo said.

DeLeo said police have searched May's vehicle, examined his cellphone and interviewed 20-25 primary witnesses.

He said all indications are that May acted alone and that there is no ongoing danger to anyone on campus in connection with the early morning shootings.

DeLeo also said investigators have found no signs that May ever encountered law enforcement with TPD or the Leon County Sheriff's Office.

Check back for more on this breaking story.

Update: 3 p.m.

Tallahassee Police Department Chief Michael DeLeo just confirmed that Myron D'Shawn May was the gunman who shot three people this morning at Florida State University.

Check back for updates.

Noon update:

The Associated Press is reporting the gunman who shot three people at Florida State University before being killed by police was a lawyer who graduated from the school.

The AP said a police official identified the shooter as Myron May, who graduated from Florida State before attending Texas Tech University's law school. The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to release the name.

May was fatally shot early Thursday after he shot three people at the Florida State library. Two are hospitalized and one has been released.

Abigail Taunton told the AP that May had recently been staying at a guest house she owns in a rural area in the Florida Panhandle. She said police interviewed her husband, David, after the shooting.

The news of the suspect's identity came shortly after hundreds of Florida State University students and supporters turned out for an impromptu memorial service for the victims in the Thursday morning shooting at Strozier Library.

Some broke into prayer groups, others into a solemn Tomahawk chop, while some broke out into a rendition of "Hymn of the Garnet and Gold."

Some students have described campus as eerie and a ghost town the morning after a gunman entered the library, fired shots that injured three and eventually died in a shootout with police officers.

Pastor Dean Inserra of City Church Tallahassee led a sea of students in prayer in the part of Landis Green not marked with police crime-scene tape.

Most students, devout or not, took time to be silent for the victims.

"There's no words really," said Rachael Mesnik, 21, an FSU senior. "It's surreal because like you hear about things like this happening but when it really happens to your campus it kind of hits harder."

Update 11:15 a.m.

Gov. Rick Scott and FSU President John Thrasher gave short remarks at a press conference at Longmire Lounge at FSU this morning. Scott credited FSU PD and Tallahassee Police Department for their fast response time.

"I know every Seminole has the heart of a dreamer and every dreamer is resilient," Scott said. He encouraged students and faculty to reach out and said "It's very important to talk about what happened."

Thasher offered sympathies to students and commended law enforcement. "Their training obviously showed up and helped defuse a situation that could have been worse." Thrasher said Strozier would be open tomorrow.

Update 10:15 a.m.

Students now are gathering in front of Strozier for an impromptu vigil. Governor Rick Scott is expected to make comments about the shooting incident on campus later this morning. The Tallahassee Democrat has reporters at the scene.

Update 9 a.m.

Two of the student victims in this morning's shooting at FSU's Strozier Library remain in the hospital, one in critical condition, one in good condition, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare officials said.

A third student injured in the shooting at about 12:30 a.m. at the library was treated at the scene and released, Tallahassee police officials said.

The lone gunman was confronted by officers at the front of the library shortly after shots were reported. Officers with the Tallahassee Police Department and FSU Police Department ordered the man to drop his weapon, but he fired at them instead. Officers returned fire, killing the man, who has not been identified.

FSU classes and exams have been canceled for the day, but the university is open and officials are providing counseling and other services to affected students. More than 300 students were studying in the library when the shootings occurred. Some fled without their shoes.

TPD, which has taken the lead in the investigation has so far held two news conferences. Another is planned for 3 p.m.

Update 6:50 a.m.

The three people injured in an early morning shooting at Florida State University were students.

Police, in an early morning briefing on the incident, said that Florida State University police officers responded to Strozier Library within minutes of reports of a gunman.

FSUPD Chief David Perry said between 300 and 400 students were inside the library around 12:30 a.m. when a gunman entered with a handgun and opened fire.

FSUPD confronted a man near the front of the library. They told him to drop his gun. Instead he fired at them. Officers then shot him dead.

Police did not release details on the identity of the lone gunman.

Perry said shots were fired outside and inside of Strozier. He said some students fled the library without their shoes but praised the actions of students, staff and law enforcement. He said there would be an increased law enforcement presence on campus Thursday.

"Security is not lacking on campus," FSUPD Chief David Perry said. "This person for whatever reason produced a hand gun and started shooting."

Two of the victims were transported to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and a third who was grazed by a bullet was treated and released at the scene. Of the two in the hospital, one is in stable condition the other is in critical condition.

Their families have been notified of the incident.

Tallahassee Police Department Chief Michael DeLeo said the incident, which is being investigated as a homicide and an attempted murder case, was isolated and that there is no indication of further threat to campus at this time.

Investigators remain on campus interviewing witnesses, DeLeo said, but some details are not known or cannot be released because the incident is still fresh.

"It will take hours and days to put all the pieces together," DeLeo said. "Everyone wants to know why and that's the hard question we are going to continue to investigate and try to find those answers for everybody."

DeLeo said five officers, both TPD and FSUPD were involved in the incident.

Tallahassee Mayor-elect Andrew Gillum called for the community to rally around FSU.

"It's one thing to read about these incidents in the newspaper or on the national news, it's another thing to experience it right here in your own community," he said. "If there is any positive news we can take from this occurrence is that the victim count was not higher."

FSU is offering counseling services to faculty, staff and students. It has also cancelled classes and exams scheduled for Thursday.

"It became evident there was a lot of impact on a lot of students and that seemed the wise thing to do," said FSU VP of student affairs Mary Coburn.

TPD is holding another media briefing on the shooting at 3 p.m.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.

Update 5:45 a.m.

Students have mostly cleared the Strozier Library area of Florida State University this morning.

Earlier they were milling about, shaken about a shooting outside the main library.

About 12:30 a.m., the Florida State University Police Department responded to a call of an armed gunman at Strozier.

FSU PD engaged a man near the front of the library. They told him to drop his gun. Instead he fired back. Officers then shot him dead.

Hours later, the body still sat on a wheelchair ramp on the east side exit of the library. At 4:50 a.m., it was placed in a white body bag and hauled off in a white van

An alert from FSU said the victims' families have been notified.

In a statement, FSU President John Thrasher said the shooting was established as an isolated incident.

"The Florida State University community is extremely saddened by the shootings that took place early this morning at Strozier Library, in the very heart of campus," Thrasher said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those who have been affected... we are increasing security measures and providing a strong law enforcement presence on and around campus today."

The university's counseling center is providing support for students, faculty and staff. Anyone in need of services should contact the center at (850) 644-2003.

FSU PD and the Tallahassee Police Department will host a press conference at 6 a.m. to give an update.

Update 5 a.m.

The Florida State University Police Department has given the all clear on campus following a shooting at Strozier Library.

Investigators remain on scene. The library and Landis Green directly in front of it are cordoned off by crime scene tape.

FSU will remain open today, but all classes and exams scheduled to be held at the university's testing center will be cancelled.

FSU employees should still report for work.

The Strozier Library will be closed until further notice FSU officials said. Students may retrieve their belongings with the assistance of law enforcement.

Original story

Three people have been transported to the hospital following a shooting incident at Strozier Library on Florida State University's campus.

Tallahassee Police Department spokesman David Northway said police responded to a call from FSUPD at 12:30 a.m. about an active shooter on campus. FSU officers confronted the shooter on the steps the library and told him to drop his weapon.

Instead, the shooter fired a round at campus police, who shot back, killing him.

Three victims were transported to the hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time, Northway said.

More than 20 emergency vehicles are on scene.

Tallahassee police Department Chief Michael DeLeo, Deputy Chief Darrell E. Furuseth and Maj. Lonnie Scott are all on scene. Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County EMS units are also on scene. Tallahassee Assistant City Manager Dee Crumpler, Mayor-elect Andrew Gillum and FSU administration are also on scene.

Mary Coburn, FSU vice president of student affairs, said the library was packed at the time of the shooting and FSU officials were providing students who were in the library with victim advocacy services.

"We're working with all the situations and providing all the services that are available," Coburn said during an early morning media briefing.

Allison Kope, a freshman from Cocoa Beach, was about 25 feet from the front door of the library when the chaos began. She heard a strange noise and about two minutes later people started talking about a shooter.

"You hear people say 'a gun is in the building, a gun is in the building," she said. "No one really knew what to do. You never think anything like this is going to happen to you."

She fled the library, leaving behind her laptop and books. "I ran for my life," she said. "I ran right out the back door."As she and others waited behind the building, she said she heard more than five shots be fired.

Northway said there is no danger to the rest of campus. Police will provide updates during a 6 a.m. press conference scheduled for Thursday.

FSUPD Maj. Jim Russell said TPD was called to investigate the incident and that FSU administrators have been notified of the incident and are expected to make statements at a later time.

Student body president Stefano Cavallaro went to the scene to speak with students who were at the incident. Cavallaro is with students in the Bellamy building, giving them passes for classes and exams tomorrow.

There are some students milling around campus, but Landis Green has been blocked off. Strozier is FSU's main library, and is open 24 hours most weekdays.

FSU freshman Nikolai Hernandez said he heard from his nearby dorm room "consecutive gun shots" that sounded like they were fired by an automatic rifle.

"That was confirmed," he said, "when I went outside and talked to someone who said they say police open fire on a shooter who was armed right on the front steps of the library."

The nursing supervisor at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare confirmed two individuals were brought into the hospital with gunshot wounds Thursday morning, but could not elaborate on their condition or whether the were students. The supervisor declined to be identified due to department policy.

Three freshmen said they heard gun shots and began getting reports from friends locked down in the library.

"We know there are definitely people who saw the shooter," said Anthony Coons.

His friend Max Martin described the surreal scene. "You hear all these stories on the news then it happens," Martin said. "This is something you never want to happen."



The below video was posted on Facebook by Jessica Davis. An individual can be heard over the intercom saying "There has been a shooting in the library. Stay where you are," and instructing people to call 911 if they have been shot.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.