Two dead, several others injured in Tallahassee shooting
Channel: Flash Video
Date: 2018-11-03

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Tallahassee Police Department says two people have died and five are injured following a Friday afternoon shooting near Bradford Road and Thomasville Road.

TPD says they responded to a shooting at the Hot Yoga in the Betton Hills Complex on Bradford Road around 5:37 p.m.

Officers say upon arrival they found multiple victims at the scene and five were transported to TMH to be treated.

Authorities say there were seven total victims, two of which have died. They have been identified as Nancy Van Vessem and Maura Binkley.

Officials say two victims are currently admitted at TMH and are in stable condition and three others have been treated and released.

TPD says patrons inside the yoga studio fought back against the gunman once he entered the building.

Officials say the suspected gunman has died due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

TPD has identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40, of Deltona, Florida.

Officers say they are searching Beierle's car, phone and social media profiles for a possible motive.

Court records show he has two prior battery arrests in Tallahassee for inappropriately touching women.

Authorities asking anyone who was near the incident between 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. to contact TPD at 850-891-4200 or Crimestoppers at 850-574-TIPS.

Tallahassee yoga studio shooting: Officials, local community share support for victimsA shooting at Tallahassee yoga studio has left two people dead and six more injured, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo.

Among those in the hospital, one person is in critical condition, three are serious, and are two in good condition, said Danielle Buchanan, spokeswoman for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. One of those taken to the hospital died, officials said. 

The unidentified shooter died after a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the incident, said city spokeswoman Alison Faris. 

Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum has cancelled campaign events to return to the city. 

Following the shooting, many people across the state shared their support and condolences.Update: Death toll in shooting at Tallahassee yoga studio rises to three, including shooter.

Early story follows:

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -— A shooter killed one person and critically wounded four others at a yoga studio in Tallahassee before killing himself Friday, officials said.

During a media briefing Friday night, Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo said four people are in critical condition following the shooting, which took place in a small Tallahassee shopping center.

The suspect fatally shot himself, DeLeo said. Authorities have not identified the shooter or the victims.

DeLeo said police are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police. He said the shooter acted alone.

“We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening,” DeLeo said.

Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three people from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active shooter.

“It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” Hutchinson said.

The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the shooter. They told her the shooter kept coming in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding the windows of the studio to warn people.

City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook, “In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray.”

Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shopping center and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances.

“You don’t think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said Welling, 26, who lives in the neighborhood.

The plaza is home to popular restaurants, a jewelry store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses.

Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant located below the yoga studio when they heard the gunshots above them.

“We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow,'” Wesson said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.”

The restaurant’s owner came by a short time later, asking if anyone was a doctor, Wesson said. His step-daughter is an emergency room nurse and helped paramedics for about an hour, he said.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, tweeted that he’s breaking off the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. He earlier appeared at a campaign event with former President Barack Obama.

“I’m deeply appreciative of law enforcement’s quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of