Staff Reports
The arrest in the Florida A&M homecoming shooting should be a wake-up call. Tallahassee police say a 15-year-old, Anthony Rivers III, is now in custody after gunfire near Bragg Memorial Stadium left a dozen people hurt. This was supposed to be a celebration. Instead, it turned into a scene of chaos and questions that city leaders still need to answer.
What happened at Perry and Manatee streets
Gunfire broke out as people were leaving FAMU’s homecoming events near Perry and Manatee streets, close to Bragg Memorial Stadium. Eleven people were shot and another was hurt while running away — twelve victims in all. Six of those shot were minors; the youngest victim reported was 11. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell called the night “one of fear and violence” for families who should have been celebrating. Police say investigators believe a single shooter was involved and that the arrested teen faces multiple counts, including attempted second-degree murder and a weapons charge. Leon Circuit Judge Andrew Sheeran ordered secure detention and agreed to seal the probable-cause affidavit while detectives continue their work.
Sealed files and charging a juvenile as an adult
The decision to seek adult charges against a 15-year-old is a serious step. State Attorney Jack Campbell told reporters prosecutors plan to charge the teen as an adult, and that move signals how grave the case is. At the same time, the court order sealing the affidavit leaves the public with fewer facts than we’d like. I get protecting witnesses. I also know that sealed files can look like secrecy for the sake of secrecy — and that does nothing for the victims or the public’s trust. If you’re worried about crime, don’t placate it with euphemisms and closed doors. Hold people accountable.
Campus safety, homecoming risks, and practical fixes
Homecoming weekends draw big crowds. That’s part of the joy. It’s also part of the problem when crowd control and off-campus safety are treated like afterthoughts. FAMU President Marva Johnson says the university will help students who are hurting. Good. But statements and counseling are not a substitute for concrete safety measures. More cameras, better lighting, targeted police presence, controlled perimeters and vendor permits could reduce the chance of a gunfight breaking out in a crowd. And for those who cheer on soft-on-crime policies, remember: rhetoric doesn’t stop bullets. Real security does.
Justice for victims and common-sense leadership
This arrest is a start. It doesn’t close the case or heal the families who saw children shot outside what should have been a safe event. The community deserves a full, public accounting once investigators can release information without endangering witnesses. Officials should pursue justice vigorously and transparently. And elected leaders need to stop pretending crime is a political talking point and start acting like public safety is a nonpartisan duty. If we care about our kids and our neighborhoods, we’ll demand common-sense policing and real consequences — not platitudes.
