Two people died and five were injured in a shooting at a hot yoga studio Friday evening in Tallahassee Florida. The gunman is also dead after shooting himself.
Police say Maura Binkley, a college student who attended Florida State University and Nancy Van Vessem a local doctor and FSU faculty member were killed by gunman Scott Paul Beierle of Deltona Florida. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo says those in the studio fought the shooter.
“The fact that we had people fight the attacker to help save other people and prevent him from doing further harm speaks to the true spirit of Tallahassee and what this community is about,” DeLeo says.
DeLeo says police are working to identify possible connections between the gunman and the victims. After interviewing 40 witnesses police are beginning to look into Beirele’s cellphone records and interview his family members.
FSU President John Thrasher relased a statement about Binkley and Van Vessem's deaths.
"There are no words to express the shock and grief we feel after learning of the deaths of Maura Binkley and Dr. Nancy Van Vessem. To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family. We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura's and Nancy's loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured,” Thrasher says.
Meanwhile, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum announced he is putting his campaign for Florida governor on hold to return to the city. He is running against Republican nominee Ron Desantis.
