A wake-up call: FSU shooting sparks renewed focus on gun violence and school safety
On April 17, panic and heartbreak swept through the Florida State University campus when a shooting near the student union left two people dead and five injured. Police quickly responded, locking down parts of three campuses while students took shelter.
This left FSU students shaken. Many turned to social media to express their concerns and send prayers to the students and faculty.
Many students said they never thought something like this would happen on their campus—a place where they came to learn, connect, and grow. But for students across the country, this fear is becoming a part of everyday life.
“With shootings becoming more prominent in schools, it starts to make me take into consideration how well a school takes care of it into consideration when choosing a college,” said Addyson Moad (’26).
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The FSU shooting is not an isolated case. It’s part of a growing trend across the U.S., where gun violence is increasingly reaching schools and universities.
From the year 2023-24, gun violence had increased 31% in the last year, with 2024 resulting in 144 incidents.
The toll of these shootings is more than physical—it’s emotional and mental. Constant lockdown drills, alerts, and viral videos of school violence have made trauma a regular part of student life.
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Some students now live with what psychologists call anticipatory anxiety, which is a constant state of fear that something bad is going to happen, even if it hasn’t yet.
Mischa Martin said “this is extremely devastating that we even have to worry about things like this today, FSU is in my prayers.”
As FSU continues to get through this tragedy, the university held there commencement ceremonies on May 3 with many notable alumni and professors giving speeches to the students.
Mel Stith, a former dean at the College of Business at FSU who helped launch the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, said, “Graduates, as you leave this place unconquered, no one or anything can conquer you.” Stith said. “In life, you will face more difficult moments, and those moments rely on your Seminole spirit and education. The FSU faculty and staff, and fellow students, have prepared you to overcome anything.”
