Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) – Blake Lenard is a freshman at Florida State University.
He says what began as a forgotten coffee ended with a miserable escape.
Two people have been killed, six injured and the suspects are taken into custody after an aggressive shooter was reported at Florida State University.
Two people died, six people were injured in a shooting at Florida State University, police say
The reported shooters were placed in the Student Union area on Thursday, and a Tallahassee police spokesman said officers confronted him and fired after he refused their orders.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Echner, the son of Leon County vice-chairman, was taken into custody and taken to hospital.
Leonard said Thursday began just like the rest of the day.
He explained that around lunchtime he was in the Taguard building when he realized he had forgotten his coffee at the Student Union.
So he turned around.
After a while, Leonard said he was running for his life.
“I’ve heard a 12 shot sound, but looking behind me to make sure I’m hearing what I’m hearing, it’s not like construction or anything,” he explained. “I started to hear people leave unions that sprint from unions.
Leonard said within seconds he was also sprinting.
Video: Police respond to Florida State University’s active shooter
“I’m running too, because I’m not trying to get it…” he said. “I don’t know where the Shooter is going, I don’t know where he is, I know I heard the shot.
News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked Leonard, “At what point did you know they were gunshots?”
“I know how gunshots sound. They’re gunshots in my head,” he explained. “But I know that construction is always ongoing.”
“So when I looked behind the area where I saw the gunshots and saw people run out, I had no doubt, those were gunshots,” Leonard continued.
He explained about the 8 on your side, this is something he didn’t think would happen to him.
“It’s so surreal and everyone is suffering,” explained Leonard. “That’s really the only way I can explain it.”
“It’s crazy, like what you see in the film,” he continued. “That’s very surreal.”
“You’re seen on Instagram, on other schools and everything, but I don’t think it’s actually going to be your school,” explained Leonard. “It’s going to actually become FSU.”
Now, Florida students are moving forward.
Leonard said he plans to stay up all night on Saturday evening and that the impact of the shooting on Tallahassee has not finished.
“People are horrible,” he said. “When I got back to campus, people would pack bags and leave.”
