{"id":235005,"date":"2026-04-17T00:36:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/235005\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T00:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:36:12","slug":"sounds-from-robotics-competition-mistaken-for-gunfire-no-active-shooter-on-famu-campus-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/235005\/","title":{"rendered":"Sounds from robotics competition mistaken for gunfire, no active shooter on FAMU campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Sounds from a high school robotics competition <\/a>hosted on Florida A&M University\u2019s campus on Thursday afternoon were mistaken for gunfire, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.<\/p>\n

Police say around noon, a caller reported seeing someone walking with a firearm near Lake Bradford Road. <\/p>\n

Due to the proximity to the HBCU, the shelter-in-place alert was issued for the west side of FAMU\u2019s campus.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the robotics competition was underway at the Al Lawson Center, and some people mistook the sounds from the event as gunfire, prompting a deluge of calls and panicked social media posts from concerned community members.<\/p>\n

According to the robotics event agenda<\/a>, students were in the midst of practice matches as the false reports of a possible shooting began pouring in.<\/p>\n

The robotics competition account posted a statement on social media saying they were grateful to law enforcement. They have reportedly resumed their regional schedule.<\/p>\n

A livestream of the event shows a law enforcement official charging into the gymnasium, seemingly encouraging them to take cover. Students quickly flee and drop to the ground. The stream faded to black shortly after. WCTV is working to obtain clearance of the video. <\/p>\n

FAMU sent a social media alert to students and faculty at about 1:01 p.m. telling them to shelter in place due to police activity in the area of Bragg Stadium and FAMU Villages. <\/p>\n

Within 30 minutes, students and faculty were given the all clear. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople gather on the sidewalk and hug on FAMU’s campus after false reports of a shooter on campus. (Julia Miller\/WCTV)<\/p>\n

In a statement from FAMU<\/a>, their officers responded to a \u201creport of a person of interest approaching campus by foot.\u201d <\/p>\n

TPD officers said they never found a person with a gun in the area as described in the original call. <\/p>\n

The university said the campus is now operating normally, and claims the false alarm stemmed from a series of swatting calls from various areas around campus. <\/p>\n

\u201cEach report was investigated, and local public safety partners assisted with the response efforts,\u201d the university said. <\/p>\n

It is unclear if any arrests have been made in connection with the incident. <\/p>\n

FAMU PD also confirmed there is no reason to believe there was a legitimate threat. The university warned students there may be an increased law enforcement presence on campus on Thursday, \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\u201d<\/p>\n

TPD said this situation serves as a reminder that under current law, a person carrying a firearm is not necessarily committing a crime, as long as the person is legally allowed to carry the weapon and is not carrying it in a restricted location.<\/p>\n

Florida State University also issued a statement<\/a> Thursday afternoon, saying there was no threat to FSU\u2019s campus. <\/p>\n

Some lockdown buttons were activated at FSU<\/a> in response to the FAMU alert message.<\/p>\n

The false alarm at the HBCU comes a mere 24 hours before FSU marks one year since two people were killed and seven others injured<\/a> in a shooting that shook the Tallahassee community. <\/p>\n

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