Boy, 15, faces 11 attempted murder charges after 12 hurt at Tallahassee homecoming

Anthony Rivers III, a 15-year-old resident of Tallahassee, faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a delinquent following a shooting near Florida Agricultural + Mechanical University (Famu). Police arrested the teen on Sunday, two days after the incident. The arrest was announced on Monday via the Tallahassee police department's Facebook page.

Twelve people were injured in the gunfire that erupted just before 8 p.m. on Saturday at an intersection near the university's Bragg stadium. The victims included six adults and six minors. Eleven of the injured sustained gunshot wounds. The twelfth victim suffered an ankle injury while fleeing the scene. Police reported that three victims were seriously wounded, with one patient remaining in critical condition in the hospital.

Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell stated that the investigation is ongoing and that further arrests are possible. Revell noted that officers responded quickly to the scene, carrying some of the injured through a crowd to safety. He attributed the violence to an altercation between two groups who knew each other. According to Revell, none of the people struck were intended targets.

The department identified Rivers despite his minority status, citing the severity of the charges. Police typically do not name minor suspects in such cases. Revell thanked community members for providing cellphone video of the event, describing the footage as vital to the investigative efforts. The shooting was one of five mass shootings recorded over the weekend by the Gun Violence Archive, which counts cases with at least four victims. That nonpartisan group has logged 386 such incidents in the United States for the current year.

Famu President Marva Johnson posted a video message on X on Sunday to condemn the violence. She described the incident as senseless and despicable. Johnson said the university would provide full assistance to the Tallahassee police department. She added that the community's future would be defined by how it responds to the challenge together.

Revell said the weekend was meant to be a time of celebration for the community. Instead, it became a night of fear for the victims and their families. He emphasized the department's commitment to holding those responsible accountable and providing answers to every affected family. The department has confirmed that the arrest marks a step forward in the case, but the work is not complete.