Police charge 15-year-old after homecoming shooting wounds 12
The suspect faces 11 attempted murder counts for an attack near Florida A&M University that left three victims seriously injured.
By Isabel Moretti ·
A 15-year-old boy faces 11 attempted murder charges after opening fire near a Florida university, wounding 12 people at a homecoming event on Saturday. Tallahassee police arrested Anthony Rivers III on Sunday, identifying him as the shooter in an attack that occurred just before 8 p.m. at an intersection near Florida Agricultural + Mechanical University's Bragg stadium.
The shooting resulted in 11 gunshot wounds and one ankle injury as a victim attempted to flee. Police reported that three of the wounded are seriously injured, with one patient in critical condition at the hospital. The victims include six adults and six minors, according to departmental records.
Detectives determined that the violence stemmed from an altercation between two groups who knew each other. Police chief Lawrence Revell stated that no one struck by the gunfire was an intended target. The department noted that Rivers now faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a delinquent.
Revell said the investigation continues and that further arrests are possible. He described the incident as a night of fear and violence for the community, emphasizing that the arrest is a step forward but not the end of the work. The chief also thanked residents who provided cellphone video of the scene, which he called vital to the investigative efforts.
This incident was one of five mass shootings recorded over the weekend in the United States, defined as cases where at least four people are wounded or killed. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonpartisan resource, has tracked 386 such events in the country so far this year.
Famu president Marva Johnson posted a video message on social media on Sunday to condemn the violence. She described the act as senseless and despicable, and stated that the university is providing full assistance to the Tallahassee police department. Johnson said the community's identity will be defined by how it responds to the event together.
Source: The Guardian
