TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – During the active shooter incident at Florida State University, a professor and several students relied on their training to navigate the crisis. While law enforcement responded quickly, the group took immediate action to protect themselves.
Dennis Smith, a professor and planner in residence at FSU, recounted the moments leading up to the alert.
“I needed to go to campus to have a counseling session with a student, and then a project meeting,” he said.
As chaos unfolded, Smith initially mistook the sound of gunfire for construction noise. “I was at my desk and I heard what I thought were construction sounds, almost like a jackhammer,” he explained. However, he soon realized the gravity of the situation.
RELATED: Court records reveal details about accused FSU shooter’s childhood, custody battle
When the threat became apparent, Smith and his students quickly implemented their training, which emphasized the importance of running, hiding, and fighting.
“We all kind of went into my office and sheltered in there,” he said.
Smith recalled the improvised weapons they considered using. “During COVID, I had a fan to keep the air circulating in my classroom. I told the students, if the man comes to the door, I’m going to use that fan as a club,” he said. “Those of you who can handle it are going to need to pick up flowerpots and throw them at the guy. We were ready to fight. Which is tragic.”
Fortunately, they did not have to resort to violence. Smith expressed gratitude for the swift response of law enforcement. “What I can say is that the law enforcement that we have at FSU were on site immediately, and we were so grateful for the law enforcement that rescued us.”
Reflecting on the incident, Smith shared a poignant thought. “I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, and this wasn’t part of our culture. I can envision a future when it’s not part of our culture again.”
