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Editorial: Learning from a close call at FSU

 
Published Nov. 21, 2014

It could have been worse. A combination of luck and quick reaction by police early Thursday morning prevented a shooting at Florida State University from becoming a larger tragedy with a greater loss of life. The gunman who entered the crowded FSU library after midnight wounded three people before police shot and killed him just after he left the building. The entire state university system can learn from this close call in Tallahassee as schools review their security, coaching measures for students who find themselves in danger, and police procedures for responding to reports of shots fired.

The initial accounts indicate FSU officials and police responded quickly and appropriately after shots were fired about 12:30 a.m. outside and inside the lobby of the Strozier Library, where hundreds of students were studying for exams. Police were called and met the gunman outside the library, where he ignored commands and was shot and killed by police. A student's recording from inside the library picked up instructions broadcast through the building, and students who had not already fled were systematically evacuated, screened and led to another building. An electronic warning system was activated, alerting more than 55,000 students, faculty and personnel within five minutes. The all-clear announcement was made well before dawn, and students were allowed to return to the library to collect their belongings. It also appeared that FSU and Tallahassee police worked well together, thanks to joint training exercises to prepare for such situations.

The resilience of a college campus is striking and reassuring. FSU officials appropriately canceled classes on Thursday and arranged for counseling sessions. And before noon there were videos of large gatherings of students praying and quietly singing the FSU chant normally heard at football games. Gov. Rick Scott and FSU president John Thrasher were among those who offered calming responses for students and parents. "We're family,'' Thrasher said, "and we're going to continue to work as a family until we get through this.''

The shooter was identified as Myron May, a 2005 FSU graduate who received a law school degree in Texas and moved back to the Tallahassee area about three weeks ago. He was described as struggling with financial issues, but it will take more time to sort out a motive, the purchase of his semiautomatic handgun in New Mexico and other factors that led to Thursday morning's shooting. Police said they had documents and videos indicating May feared being targeted but no indication about why he chose the time and place to act.

The lessons learned from previous campus shootings around the country proved valuable: Good training, prompt police response and rapid sharing of information are all critical to prevent a large loss of life. FSU benefited from all of those Thursday, and other college campuses should ensure they are similarly prepared for the unexpected.