Police in Tallahassee, Florida, have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a shooting that left 11 people wounded near Florida A&M University’s football stadium during homecoming celebrations.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said on Monday that the teenager faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a delinquent.
Investigators believe a physical altercation involving people who knew one another preceded the shooting on Perry Street, behind Bragg Memorial Stadium, on Saturday night.
“None of the victims appear to have been the intended targets,” Revell said, adding that the investigation remained active and further arrests were possible.
Six juveniles, including an 11-year-old, were among those injured. No deaths had been reported as of Monday.
Police said five victims had been discharged from hospital by Sunday morning, while six remained under medical care. One of those still hospitalised was in critical condition.
A grandmother of one of the victims was also injured while fleeing the scene, according to police.
The shooting occurred hours after a homecoming football game between Florida A&M University and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Arkansas-Pine Bluff won the game 31-28.
Authorities have not established whether the shooting was connected to the football game or the wider homecoming celebrations.
The Tallahassee Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. Detectives have reviewed digital evidence and canvassed the area as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact investigators through the department’s tip line.
Florida A&M University President Marva Johnson expressed sadness over the shooting and said the university had reached out to members of its community who were injured to offer support.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey also expressed solidarity with the victims, their families and the university community.
The incident adds to the ongoing problem of gun violence in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, at least 383 mass shootings had been recorded nationwide by the time of the report. The organisation defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.
