UM Reaches Out To FSU Community
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - They're usually rivals, but Sunday evening the University of Miami community paused to say it stands with Florida State University.
A mass at St. Augustine, the Catholic Church that serves the UM campus, was dedicated to the FSU community after a shooting at the Tallahassee campus early Thursday morning.
When shots rang out at FSU's Strozier Libraty, people across the state heard them. It hit close to home for FSU graduates like Will Oldham.
"One thing is that (the shooting) really unites people, even this small tragedy," said Oldham. ("It) just really brings people together and gives people a sense of who they are."
Three FSU students were shot, including Elijah Velez of Miramar. The FSU freshman said he was getting on his bike outside the library when a bullet grazed his right side.
"I fell off the bike and I started running and then he shot again," said Velez.
Watch MaryAnn Martinez's Report
Velez dodged a second bullet and made it to safety. The gunman, identified as Myron May, was shot and killed by police. May was a FSU graduate and later became a lawyer. Police describe him as being in crisis, believing the government was spying on him.
"I don't have any resentment," said Velez. "He had his own problems to deal with, and I can't be mad at him for anything."
At a Sunday mass in Coral Gables, the priest praised Velez's reaction to the shooter.
("Velez is) getting the truth of our humanity," said Father Michael Carruthers. "We are all sons and daughters of the most high God."
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