FSU Shooting Victims Identified As Students Resume Classes
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - Tallahassee Police have identified the three victims injured in shooting at Florida State University shooting.
Police said FSU Alum Myron May shot 30-year old Nathan Scott, 21-year old Farahan Ahmed, and 18-year old Elijah Velez.
Ahmed was shot near Velez on the steps of the library. Scott was shot in the leg inside the library where he worked.
Officers said May then reloaded and went back outside to officers who had the place surrounded.
He refused to surrender, as a result of this encounter, Mr. May was shot and killed by police officers," said Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo.
CLICK HERE To Watch Ted Scouten's Report
In an exclusive interview with CBS4's news partner the Miami Herald, Velez said he on his bike when May opened fire. He said the first bullet bounced off his bike and the second shot grazed his side near the front of his stomach.
Velez said he jumped on his bike and took off, not noticing he had been hit. Looking back quickly, Velez watched as May sat down on a bench.
As the students scattered around him, Velez pedaled straight to his dorm where he was met by a police officer and resident adviser.
Velez said he isn't in much physical pain but decided he needed to get away from the campus for a bit.
On Friday night, the bio-chemistry major boarded a bus headed back to Broward County to be with family.
Austin, a student who lives on the same suite as Velez, was shocked to hear someone so close to him was hurt.
"I'm really sad it happened because he really is one of the nicest kids I've ever met. I don't want this to effect his academic career, life at Florida State. I don't want him to get distracted by something tragic like this," Austin said.
As for the other FSU students, they went back to their normal routine.
Since the shooting early Thursday morning, the library was closed but on Friday it was reopened as classes resumed.
FSU students went back to school after a night of vigils and prayers, classes resumed at FSU.
"It was really nice just to have all those smiling faces saying, 'welcome to the library!'Like it was a normal day. It's kind of like nothing ever happened," said student Rylan Harvey.
With flowers in one hand and books in the other, FSU students were greeted by University President John Thrasher as they entered the re-opened Strozier Library at 9 a.m. For many they were not there to study, but instead make a point.
"It's important for our students to get back to normalcy, to let them know this campus is safe," said Thrasher.
Taylor Krause was just feet away from May when he began shooting. She ran for cover and barricaded herself in a room, wondering if she would be next. On Friday, she returned to the library but wasn't ready to take the next step.
"I'm going to continue to live my life and I will be back, because I love this library and I'm not going to let this effect how I live my life," said Krause.
"But you're not going back in the library today," asked CBS4's Ted Scouten.
"No, not today," said Krause.
Others went in, but with hesitation.
"I'll be honest, my heart rate's really kind of elevated," said Andrew Kitterman as he passed by the spot where Nathan Scott was shot in the leg. "Sorry, it's just weird, it's just weird that it's here, right here."
Still others looked at the big picture, saying a shooting can happen anywhere at any time.
"Even though it happened, it doesn't change how the school is. It's still an amazing school and it so would be a privilege to come here," said Margaret Baird.
Students on campus are writing letters to the three people who were injured and making remembrance posters to hang in the library.
"I know that they're supported by FSU and can gain some strength, especially the one in critical condition and hopefully she or he is able to fight even more now, knowing the entire university behind her," said student Logon Knutson.
And the victims should feel that support even more when the "un=conquered" seminoles take the field Saturday afternoon.
Their helmets will feature a special ribbon.
The team tweeted, "We are proud to be wearing ribbon decals on our helmets tomorrow."
The band will also play a tribute before kick off. Students and alumni said it's that spirit, that support, when times get tough, that make the Noles who they are.
"The whole Seminole community united. This was a terrible tragedy but we are one team, one heartbeat, one school," said alumni Tom Martens.
Students on campus are writing letters to the three people who were injured and making remembrance posters to hang in the library.
"I know that they're supported by FSU and can gain some strength, especially the one in critical condition and hopefully she or he is able to fight even more now, knowing the entire university behind her," said student Logon Knutson.
And the victims should feel that support even more when the "un=conquered" seminoles take the field Saturday afternoon.
Their helmets will feature a special ribbon.
The team tweeted, "We are proud to be wearing ribbon decals on our helmets tomorrow."
The band will also play a tribute before kick off. Students and alumni said it's that spirit, that support, when times get tough, that make the Noles who they are.
"The whole Seminole community united. This was a terrible tragedy but we are one team, one heartbeat, one school," said alumni Tom Martens.
RELATED CONTENT: