FSU active shooting cancels campus event that honored Tallahassee hot yoga shooting victim
The active shooting occurred on the day of the "United Against Hate" event that sheds a light on 21-year-old Maura Binkley, a senior at FSU who was one of two victims killed Nov. 2, 2018, in the Tallahassee hot yoga studio shooting. Binkley and 61-year-old Dr. Nancy Van Vessem died after a gunman with a long history of abusive behavior and hatred against women opened fire in the hot yoga studio.
Hours before "United Against Hate: Building a Safer Campus and Community Together" would start, there was an active shooter on campus at FSU on Thursday, April 17. At about noon, the Leon County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of an active shooter in FSU's student union. FSU students not already on campus were instructed to stay away, and all Leon County schools were under lockdown by 12:15 p.m.
Students were instructed through the university's emergency alert system to shelter in place, lock and stay away from all doors and windows, and 'be prepared to take additional protective measures.'
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, students were still sheltering in place and six people had been reported injured and were being treated for injuries, some of them critical. Rumors of multiple shooters on campus were circulating among students, but had not been confirmed by local authorities. One man was taken into custody, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.
'All classes and university events including athletics events scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025, have been cancelled,' according to FSU's alert website. 'Individuals not already on the main campus at this time should avoid coming to the Tallahassee main campus.'
The "United Against Hate" event was a "Maura's Voice Symposium" organized by students, faculty and university leaders.
During the 2018 tragedy, the gunman walked into Hot Yoga Tallahassee before shooting and killing Maura Binkley, who was a fourth-generation FSU student at the time and Van Vessem, who was a chief medical officer at Capital Health Plan and an early faculty member at FSU's College of Medicine.
The gunman also injured five others before killing himself.
The "United Against Hate: Building a Safer Campus and Community Together" event was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the Moore auditorium at FSU. The description said FSU students, faculty, university leadership and Tallahassee community leaders would discuss "effective strategies to counter hate on campus and in our communities" via engaging in meaningful conversations, shared experiences and brainstorming "innovative solutions to foster a safer and more respectful environment for everyone. Let's work together to create positive change and build a stronger, united community … with no place for hate."
In the years since the Tallahassee hot yoga studio shooting, Maura Binkley's parents, Jeff and Margaret Binkley, established the Maura's Voice Research Fund in her memory. FSU's Maura's Voice Research Fund includes research to prevent misogynistic violent extremism. In November 2023, Jeff Binkley spoke at a symposium and memorial that marked the five-year anniversary of the tragic shooting. FSU President Emeritus John Thrasher, who led the university when the shooting took place, was one of the speakers at the Maura's Voice symposium.
'We wanted to honor the victims and have people see what's been going on at FSU to address hate and violent extremism in our society,' Jeff Binkley said at the 2023 event.
For more information about Maura's Voice Research Fund and the "United Against Hate: Building a Safer Campus and Community Together" at FSU, visit maurasvoice.org.
Contributing: Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat, and Lianna Norman and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network-Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU active shooting cancels event about hot yoga studio shooting victim
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Internet Reacts After Florida Man in Chuck E. Cheese Costume Arrested
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Social media erupted after a man in a Chuck E. Cheese costume was arrested and led out of the restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida, while families and kids watched the detainment of the man wearing a giant mouse head. A photo of the employee's arrest was widely distributed and viewed online in a Facebook post from freelance writer and former trial lawyer Chuck Hobbs. Ok, Tallahassee Police Department, y'all couldn't let this man change out of his Chuck E. Cheese costume before arresting him in front of those kids? 🤔😭🙄 "Ok, Tallahassee Police Department, y'all couldn't let this man change out of his Chuck E. Cheese costume before arresting him in front of those kids?" he wrote in a caption accompanying the photo. Why It Matters The Leon County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Newsweek that the suspect is 41-year-old Jermell Jarreau Jones. According to police records, Jones was arrested on three felony counts: criminal use of personal identification information, theft of a credit card and fraudulent use of a credit card over two times within six months. Contact information for an attorney representing Jones was not immediately available. Video footage and photos of him being taken into custody were widely circulated on social media, given the nature of the arrest and the circumstances surrounding it. Multiple photos and videos also showed shocked patrons looking on while Jones was handcuffed and led out into the restaurant's parking lot before officers had him remove his costume outside a police car. Chuck E. Cheese is pictured in Laurel, Maryland, on June 23, 2020. Chuck E. Cheese is pictured in Laurel, Maryland, on June 23, 2020. Julia Weeks/AP What To Know The internet flew into a frenzy after Jones' arrest, with a slew of users making Chuck E. Cheese references while discussing the news. "Bail has been set at 3,500 tickets," Chase Mitchell, writer for The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, wrote on X in response to the news. Bail has been set at 3,500 tickets — Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) July 24, 2025 Emily C. Singer, writer for left-wing outlet Daily Kos, posted a screenshot of an officer leading Jones out of the restaurant in handcuffs while he was still dressed in the famous mouse's costume. "Record scratch, freeze frame ... 'You're probably wondering how I found myself in this situation,'" Singer wrote. Barstool Sports posted on X: "NOOOO THEY GOT CHUCK E. CHEESE." The post was accompanied by a video of the suspect having the head of the costume removed by police officers while he was standing while handcuffed outside the establishment. Right-wing commentator Nick Sortor wrote: "JUST IN: 'Chuck E. Cheese' has been ARRESTED in Florida ... Man, Chuck's finally hit rock bottom, it seems. What a shame." What People Are Saying The Tallahassee Democrat cited an employee at the restaurant who said of the arrest: "It's unfortunate that it happened here." The employee, who was not identified in the report, told the news outlet that Jones' arrest did not have anything to do with the company. What Happens Next Jones has been released on bond, according to police records.
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Florida State student accused in a mass shooting is set to go to trial in November
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The trial for the Florida State University student accused of killing two people and wounding six others in a mass shooting on campus in April is set to go to trial this November. At a case management conference in a Tallahassee courthouse on Wednesday, Second Judicial Circuit Judge Lance Neff set jury selection in the case of 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner to begin Nov. 3. Ikner's attorney, public defender Peter Mills, said he needs more time to delve into the case, which involves extensive video surveillance footage and witness testimony. 'I object to that, judge,' Mills said of the trial schedule. 'I am still investigating the case. My client's entitled to effective assistance of counsel.' Neff indicated he's open to hearing out Mills' concerns, saying, 'we can talk about what what you need' in order to investigate the case. As far as the prosecution, Second District State Attorney Jack Campbell said, 'we'll be ready.' Ikner faces two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. He is the stepson of a local sheriff's deputy , and investigators say he used his stepmother's former service weapon to carry out the shooting. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
The laws around swearing in public as council plans £100 fines for bad language
Residents of seaside towns in south east England could be fined £100 for swearing in public, under fresh council proposals. Thanet District Council has launched a fresh bid to see restrictions on 'foul or abusive language' brought in to the Kent seaside towns of Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. The council tried to apply for similar rules – known as a public space protection order (PSPO) – last July. That scheme was scrapped a month later after the Free Speech Union (FSU) threatened legal action. However, council papers for a meeting on Tuesday have revealed that the authority now hopes to revisit the rules to crack down on anti-social behaviour. In their reasoning for bringing the fines back, the report states that police officers found it a helpful tool, and that they have experienced "increased difficulties in managing some of the identified forms of anti-social behaviour". The report says: 'There is an ongoing issue of antisocial behaviour in the Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate areas. The causes of this are complex and the PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour, as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this.' According to the document, the rule states: 'All persons are prohibited from using foul or abusive language in such a manner that is loud and can be heard by others and cause either alarm or distress to any other person in any public place.' The penalty for breaking the PSPO, which will cover Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs entirely, is £100 to be paid within 28 days - but is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The order also bans anti-social groups, misuse of public space, urinating, defecating or spitting, legal psychoactive substances (such as nitrous oxide), humiliating others and consuming alcohol. The report acknowledges a lot of criticism of the order, including the vague nature of the term "foul language" and fears of disruption to peaceful protests. However, they say that exceptions will be made if people have a "reasonable excuse" for having broken the rules. Cabinet members are expected to discuss the revisited order in the council chamber on 24 July. If approved, the PSPO will be in place for three years. Yahoo News UK has contacted the Free Speech Union for a comment. Swearing in public isn't automatically illegal – it becomes an offence under the Public Order Act 1986, Section 5, if it's threatening or abusive and likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. However, context is key and aggressive swearing in a crowded place can break the law, unlike casual swearing among friends. Someone must feel or be likely to feel distressed for it to be an offence. Police officers are less likely to be considered distressed and so swearing in front of them will not necessarily see you fined. There is also an offence of using obscene language in the street to the annoyance of residents. However, an arrest for this is only likely if the behaviour occurs in the presence of a police officer. Other laws, like the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, apply if swearing is racially or religiously aggravated. Local bylaws may also restrict swearing in specific areas. Freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act 1998 protects some swearing. However, courts balance this right against preventing public disorder. Breaching Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 can lead to a fine up to £1,000. No prison sentence is typically imposed for this offence. If swearing is racially or religiously aggravated under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, penalties are harsher. Offenders could face up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine. Local bylaws, like those proposed by Thanet, may result in fixed penalty notices, often around £100. Non-payment could lead to court action and higher fines. Police may issue a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for minor offences, costing £80. Paying this avoids court but admits guilt. In rare cases, persistent or extreme behaviour could escalate to charges under broader public order laws. This might involve community orders or, in exceptional cases, short custodial sentences. Click below to see the latest South and South East headlines
