The case from Saturday night's shooting near Florida A&M University moved into the courtroom on Monday. Anthony Rivers III, 15, made his first court appearance in Leon County juvenile court, where a judge ordered him held in secure detention with no contact with the victims while the case is pending. State Attorney Jack Campbell said the teenager will be charged as an adult.
Rivers was arrested Sunday, October 25, in connection with the shooting that wounded 11 people — including six children, the youngest just 11 years old — near Bragg Memorial Stadium after the Rattlers' homecoming game. A 12th person was injured while fleeing the scene. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and a charge of possession of a firearm by a delinquent. The charges are allegations, and the investigation remains open — police say more arrests are possible.
According to Tallahassee police, a physical altercation between people who knew one another preceded the shooting, and investigators believe one shooter was involved. Their preliminary assessment: none of the victims appear to have been the intended targets. The gunfire erupted around 8 p.m. Saturday on Perry Street, hours after the homecoming game — a 31-28 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff — had ended. As of Sunday morning, six victims remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition and three with serious injuries. There were no fatalities. One of the victims is a Florida A&M student.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell, speaking after the arrest, said: "What should have been a weekend of celebration in our community instead became a night of fear and violence for the victims and their families. While this arrest marks a significant step forward, our work is far from over. We remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and getting answers for every family impacted by this tragedy."
This one hits the DAOS community where it lives. Homecoming is family — alumni coming home, kids running around the tailgates, the whole block out celebrating together. And the hardest fact in this story is the age of the person now facing adult charges: 15 years old. A child with a gun, a crowd full of families, and 11 people who were never the target.
The DAOS take: martial arts teaches awareness before it teaches anything else, and this is why. At any crowded public event — a game, a concert, a homecoming — know your exits before you need them. If an argument near you starts escalating, create distance early; you do not need to see how it ends. If shooting starts, run first — get distance, get behind cover, get out of the line of fire. Hide if you cannot run. And check on your people, especially the kids. The community is the family, and the family looks out for each other. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the FAMU community.
Sources: Catholics for Catholics · New York Post
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