Eleven people were shot, including six children, near Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday night, October 24, 2026, just hours after the school's homecoming football game, police said. A twelfth person was hurt while fleeing the scene. One victim was in critical condition, and no arrests had been made as of late Saturday night.
File photo: Bragg Memorial Stadium, home of the Florida A&M Rattlers, at night. The shooting happened near the stadium on Saturday night, police said.
The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. near the intersection of Perry and Manatee streets, close to the stadium, according to the Tallahassee Police Department. Crowds were still in the area after the homecoming game, in which Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Florida A&M 31-28 at Bragg Memorial Stadium earlier in the evening.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell, speaking at a late-night news conference, described a scene of chaos and grief. "I stand before you tonight devastated," he said. "It is especially heartbreaking to know that children are among those injured."
What Police Say Happened
According to police, a physical altercation between individuals came before the gunfire. Revell said investigators believe the shooting was an isolated incident involving two or three people, not a broader attack on the crowd.
"An altercation occurred between individuals," Revell said. "We do not know exactly what happened... what we do believe is that this was an isolated incident between two or three individuals."
Police said it was not yet clear whether the shooting was connected to the homecoming game itself. The department's Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, and officers remained at the scene late Saturday night processing evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Witnesses described panic as shots rang out and crowds scattered. Florida A&M student Jayden Dubois told local station WCTV that he heard gunshots and saw a crowd of people running. "We heard a couple gun shots and a crowd of people running. I had gotten trampled a little bit, but as I got up, I turned to my right and saw a person laid out on the ground," Dubois said.
File photo: A building on the Florida A&M University campus in Tallahassee. The university said the campus remains safe and urged people to avoid the area near Perry Street.
The Victims
Police said 12 people were injured in total: 11 with gunshot wounds and one more person hurt while fleeing. The injured included six adults and six juveniles, and the youngest victim was 11 years old, according to police. One of the victims was a Florida A&M student.
In a midnight update, police said one victim was in critical condition, three others had serious injuries, and eight were in stable condition. No fatalities had been reported.
Revell spoke directly to the victims and their families at the news conference. "We hurt with you, and we will continue to get you the answers you so desperately want," he said. "My message to the community is this... No family should have to experience this kind of violence, this kind of fear, this kind of heartbreak."
He also praised first responders, saying some officers carried victims in their arms to transport because they could not get vehicles through the mass of people. He urged crowds at such scenes to disperse quickly so officers and medics can reach the injured.
University Responds
Florida A&M University, a historically Black university in Tallahassee, said in a statement late Saturday that it was aware of the incident near campus and that police were on the scene and actively investigating.
"The University is aware of an incident that occurred near campus on Perry Street on the evening of October 24. The Tallahassee Police Department is on the scene and actively investigating the situation," the university said. "Our hearts go out to the victims and all those affected by this tragic incident. While the campus remains safe, individuals are encouraged to avoid the area to allow law enforcement to conduct its investigation."
In a separate message on X, the university added: "The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority."
The shooting took place during homecoming weekend, one of the busiest times of the year for the university, when students, alumni, and visitors gather on and around campus for the game and related events. Police asked people to avoid the area around Perry Street while the investigation continued.
What This Means
The shooting has shaken a weekend meant to be a celebration for Florida A&M and its alumni. Homecoming at historically Black colleges and universities is traditionally a major community gathering, drawing graduates and families back to campus, and the violence near the stadium on Saturday night cut directly into that atmosphere.
For investigators, the central questions now are who fired the shots and what exactly set off the altercation. Police have said publicly only that a fight between a small number of people preceded the gunfire, and they have not announced a motive, identified any suspect, or said whether any weapon has been recovered. That limited public picture is typical in the first hours of an investigation, when detectives are still working through witness accounts and surveillance footage, but it also means much of what happened remains unconfirmed.
The presence of so many young victims has drawn particular attention. Six of the injured were juveniles, and the youngest was 11, a fact Revell returned to more than once at his news conference. Police have not said whether the children were attending the homecoming events with family or were simply caught in the crowd near the stadium
File photo: A Tallahassee Police Department vehicle. The department's Violent Crimes Unit is investigating the shooting, and no arrests had been announced as of late Saturday night.
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What Happens Next
Police are asking anyone who saw anything or has information to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department at 850-891-4200 or Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS, according to police.
Investigators are expected to release more information as it becomes available, including any updates on the victims' conditions and whether any arrests have been made. Police have said more information will be released as the investigation develops.
For now, the university says the campus remains safe, and police say the investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story, and details may change as police release further updates.
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