An unidentified man shot two people in the university's library before he was killed by heavily armed policeman who swarmed the campus
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This is the chilling moment students are told that a gunman who shot three people is on the rampage in their university.
Students of Florida State University are told via a speaker system that there has been a shooting in the campus library, and that they should stay where they are.
The footage was captured on one terrified young man's mobile phone as he hunkers down in the library with dozens of other young people.
Such a scary moment. Pray for #FSU pic.twitter.com/Iqo6dhgrkt
— Josh Ferreira (@callmemrferrari) November 20, 2014 It was taken after a gunman went on the rampage in the university's Stozier Library at around 5.30am this morning UK time (12.30am stateside).
Three people were being treated for gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital, while the gunman was shot dead after heavily armed police stormed the campus and confronted the shooter.
One of the people who was shot is in a critical condition while the second is said to be stable. There is no information as yet on the third person
Cops clearing 4th floor now. Officer Garcia from TPD leading us. Searching us. pic.twitter.com/amk03lmTRd
— Blair Stokes (@blairstokes) November 20, 2014 It is not clear if they are students, and no further details on their condition has been released. According to witness reports, campus police told the gunman to drop his weapon but he refused, instead firing shots at the officers. They shot back, killing him.
One horrified student told how young people were writing messages to their families, telling them they loved them in case they were killed in the carnage.
Posting to Twitter, Alex Lauren said: "Apparently students left farewell messages to family on nearby white boards in the library. My heart is breaking."
Stuff just abandoned pic.twitter.com/7rbSZIEVCc
— Blair Stokes (@blairstokes) November 20, 2014 Other students took to social networks to describe how they had been hiding and posted images of police officers immediately following the incident.
Student Toni Haywood, a junior, says she was on the second floor of the library at about 12:30 a.m., when she says she heard gunshots and people began running upstairs telling people to hide.
She added: "The police came on the intercom and said that there was a gunman in the lobby, and I think he said two people had been shot.
Apparently students left farewell messages to family on nearby white boards in the library. My heart is breaking
— alex lauren (@alxlrn) November 20, 2014 “He said to stay away from doors and windows and to stay where we were. We all waited then the police came back on and said the gunman was in custody and to stay where we were.”
According to the university, the area where the situation occurred, Stozier Library, has been secured. Police have not released additional details on the incident.
Mary Coburn, vice president of student affairs, announced the gunman was shot and killed by university police. The Tallahassee Police Department confirmed the gunman fired on the university officers, who killed him.
CONFIRMED: There is NO ADDITIONAL THREAT to campus at this time. More information posted as it becomes available.
— Florida State Univ. (@floridastate) November 20, 2014 Strozier is the university’s largest library, Perry Kostidaxis, editor of the student newspaper, told CNN. “It’s not unusual for 100 students to be there this time of year,” he said, as finals are fast approaching.
After the gunman was shot, students were taken out of their hiding places by police - who remain on the scene.
The university tweeted at around 9am this morning that the area had been secured and there was no longer a threat to people.
