On Thursday afternoon, Florida State University became the site of a tragic shooting that left two people dead and several others injured. The incident unfolded outside the university’s student union, prompting students and passersby to flee the area, seeking shelter from the chaos and uncertainty.
Those who managed to find safe spaces recounted a surreal 15-minute wait before they were cleared to leave, marking a harrowing experience that many would prefer to forget. Garrett Harvey, a student just weeks from graduation, shared a poignant reflection on the ordeal: “You shouldn’t have to think about that when you’re going to school and trying to get your degree. You go to school to get your degree, make friends, you make memories, not to go to school to experience stuff like this.”
The Miami Heat, recognizing the broader implications of such violence in their home state, issued a heartfelt statement. They expressed their devastation over the senseless tragedy that has impacted countless lives, particularly noting how many in their organization are FSU alumni or parents of students currently enrolled there. The team highlighted the grim reality faced by students who found themselves barricading their dorm rooms instead of concentrating on their studies. “These students should be preparing for finals, not wondering if they should prepare to say final goodbyes,” the statement read, urging for meaningful reform to confront the ongoing epidemic of gun violence.
