Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University sign in Tallahassee, FL, USA. (Adobe Stock / JHVEPhoto)

Twelve people were injured after a mass shooting occurred on Perry St. during Florida A&M University’s Homecoming celebrations on Saturday, Oct. 24. 

Eleven people were treated for gunshot wounds while one person was injured during the ensuing chaos, according to the Tallahassee Police Department. Six of the victims were confirmed to be children. 

Crowds gathered on Perry St., which lies just steps from Florida A&M’s Bragg Memorial Stadium, when at 8 p.m. a succession of shots rang out. 

According to the Tallahassee Police Department, a physical altercation broke out prior to the shooting. 

“Tonight, our thoughts are with the victims and their families as they face the devastating impact of this violence,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. 

On Monday, Oct. 26, the TPD announced that it had made an arrest in connection with the shooting, taking 15-year-old Anthony Rivers III into custody.  

Rivers was charged with 11 counts of second-degree attempted murder. 

Police emphasized that this was still an ongoing investigation and that “additional arrests are possible.” 

“While this arrest marks a significant step forward, our work is far from over. We remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and getting answers for every family impacted by this tragedy,” Revell said. 

Many victims of the shooting took to social media to express their disappointment, among them Will Linton, a FAMU alumnus who returned to celebrate during homecoming. 

“I can’t gather the words to express how I feel right now after being ran over twice during the shooting on Perry St., but I also can’t imagine how the families of the victims feel. I walked away with bruises and maybe a broken finger,” Linton wrote in a Facebook post. 

Rahkia Celina, who was on Perry St. during the shooting, described the terror she felt as shots rang out. 

“I was stepping onto Perry Street when I heard gunshots and suddenly found myself caught up in a crowd of people running, myself included. It was scary, confusing, and the uncertainty of that moment was overwhelming,” Celina wrote. “I still don’t quite have the words to express everything I’m feeling.” 

Florida A&M President Marva Johnson spoke on the Perry St. Shooting on Sunday. 

“To our Rattler family and our surrounding Tallahassee community, I share your outrage and profound sadness at the senseless and despicable shooting that occurred on our FAMU campus last night.” 

Johnson also gave her condolences to the victims of the shooting. 

“To all the victims, please know that we are with you and we are praying for your recovery in body, mind and spirit.” 

The Perry St. shooting is the second mass shooting to occur in Tallahassee in recent years, following the shooting at Florida State University on April 17 in 2025. 

According to gun violence database The Trace, a total of seven shootings had occurred on Perry St. prior to Saturday’s shooting; the previous incidents left a total of nine injured and one dead.