FLORIDA STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS REMAIN ALERT; ACTIVE SHOOTER REPORTED AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY IN TALLAHASSEE

(The Situation Update Report [SUR] is a near real-time brief of a possible threat or situation being monitored by The Counter Threat Center.  The information is accurate at the time of reporting, but may be subject to change.)  

Lydia Baccino, Jacob Robison, Daniela De Luca, Ashley Snyder, NORTHCOM

Archie Archie, Editor; Elena Alice Rossetti, Senior Editor

April 17, 2025

Police Officers on Scene[1]

Current situation: An active shooter incident was reported at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU released an alert confirming that police were actively engaged on campus, and suggested that students lock doors, shelter in place, and prepare for other precautions. A second alert advised students in need of assistance to immediately call 911.[2] The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is on scene assisting law enforcement.[3]    

Day/Time of event: April 17, 2025

What is the current threat:

• This shooting will likely receive national media attention, likely inspiring similar attacks against other educational sites. The widespread US media coverage of school shootings likely contributes to a sense of notoriety that appeals to extremist individuals seeking attention, likely prompting some of them to act violently for recognition.

• This shooting will almost certainly spark debate over gun regulations in Florida and throughout the US, likely adding tension to the political climate. This tension will likely lead extremist individuals to progress along the pathway to radicalization, very likely causing some radicalized actors to express their grievances through physical violence.

• Students and staff will likely lose trust in FSU’s protective capabilities, likely organizing protests and calls for administrative action. These protests very likely present security challenges, including large crowds in open spaces and unidentified attendees. Student-led protests will likely be peaceful, but there is a roughly even chance that threat actors, including lone actors, will infiltrate these gatherings. Such infiltration will likely complicate crowd identification and challenge authorities’ ability to distinguish between legitimate demonstrators and those with harmful intent.

• Some students will likely experience mental health impacts, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which will likely lead to long-term deterioration in student performance. FSU will likely deploy mental health services for affected students, but if the recipients perceive the services as inadequate, this will very likely generate grievances. Aggrieved students will likely transfer schools or join organized protests that call for improved mental health resources and protections.      

Who will it directly impact:

• FSU students and faculty

• FSU administration

• FBI

• On-campus law enforcement and emergency response teams

• Tallahassee Police Department

• Parents and relatives of FSU students and staff

• Bystanders in public campus areas within the lockdown radius

• Paramedics on-site and local hospitals receiving injured individuals

• Businesses and public transit services around the FSU campus

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[1] Police lockdown at school, generated by a third party image database (created by AI)

[2] STATUS: TALLAHASSEE MAIN CAMPUS SHELTER IN PLACE, Florida State University, April 2025, https://alerts.fsu.edu 

[3] @FBIJacksonville, X, April 17, 2025, https://x.com/FBIJacksonville/status/1912914252932722866