TALLAHASSEE, Fls. – A Florida A&M University graduate who attended homecoming events this weekend says a shooting that wounded 11 people near campus should not overshadow the school’s legacy or discourage alumni from returning.
Police arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rivers and charged him with 11 felonies after the shooting Saturday near Perry Street, which runs alongside the FAMU football stadium. Police say none of the people shot was Rivers’ intended target and that he opened fire after a fight.
Rivers appeared virtually at a first-appearance hearing on Monday. His mother also attended, and the judge ordered Rivers to remain in supervised detention.
Police say six of the people shot were children. The youngest victim is 11.
Tiffany Renee, a FAMU graduate celebrating her 20th anniversary at homecoming, had left Perry Street shortly before the shooting. She noted that the street is behind the stadium but is not technically on campus.
Renee said the violence does not represent FAMU’s culture or values, and encouraged alumni to stay connected with the university and one another.
“The culture of the HBCU is like none other,” Renee said. “You really feel like you never left home.”
She said she would like to see increased security in the area, which was crowded during homecoming, while praising police for responding quickly and helping move wounded people to safety.
At the last report, five people had been released from the hospital and six remained hospitalized. One person was in critical condition.
The Gun Violence Archive reported 383 mass shootings in the United States this year.
