Teenager detained in Florida over shooting that left 12 injured, including children

Detention of the suspect

Tallahassee police have detained a teenager in connection with a Saturday shooting that left 12 people injured in Florida. The incident occurred at around 8:00 p.m. local time near Bragg Memorial Stadium at Florida A&M University, shortly after a football game had taken place there. According to local police, 11 people suffered gunshot wounds, and one more injured an ankle while fleeing the scene. Six of the victims are children. BBC News reported this.

Charges and the course of the investigation

15-year-old Anthony Rivers III has been charged on 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder, as well as with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police said the shooting followed a conflict between people who knew each other and that additional arrests are possible. According to the police, none of the victims appears to have been an intended target of the attackers.

Condition of the victims and the authorities' response

On Sunday, police reported that six people remain in hospital, one of them in critical condition; five have already been released. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell stated: “A weekend that was supposed to be a celebration for our community instead turned into a night of fear and violence for the victims and their families”. He added that the police intend to hold those responsible accountable and to give answers to every affected family. At a press conference, Revell said that because of the crowds after the football game, officers had to carry the victims in their arms to hand them over to medics. The editorial team notes that the shooting near the stadium after a mass event affected bystanders, including children, which is also emphasized by the police's own statement that the victims were not targets; for city residents, this means an ongoing investigation and possible new arrests.

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