A gunman posing as a customer opened fire inside a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, killing two women and wounding five others before killing himself, authorities said. Local police identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40.

Police said Beierle shot six people with a handgun and pistol-whipped another. Patrons fought the gunman and prevented him from harming others. Two of the victims died, while another two are in stable condition. Three have been released from the hospital.

"The fact we had people fight this attacker and prevent him from doing further harm speaks to the true spirit of Tallahassee," police chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday.

The deceased victims were identified as Maura Binkley, 21, and Nancy Van Vessem, 61. Florida State University (FSU) President John Thrasher said Binkley was a student at the college and Vessem was a faculty member.

"To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family," Thrasher said. "We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura's and Nancy's loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured."

A gunman killed two people in Florida. CBS News

Police said Beierle acted alone, but investigators are still searching for a motive and his connection to the victims.

Leon County Court records show Beierle had criminal history relating to the harassment of several women. In 2012, the FSU graduate was arrested for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of two women at a campus dining hall. He denied intentionally grabbing anyone.

In 2016, Beierle was arrested for grabbing and slapping the buttocks of a woman at an apartment complex's pool, according to court documents. Prosecutors dropped the charges after both of his arrests.

Police responded to the shooting at the upscale shopping plaza around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Melissa Hutchinson is a bartender across the street from the studio. She administered first aid as bloodied victims rushed inside the bar to take cover. "I had two people that I was helping, they were very emotional," Hutchinson said. "They just saw people get shot. It was a shocking moment."

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Gov. Rick Scott visited the gunshot victims in the hospital. "These have become far too frequent in our society," Gillum said Friday. "It is my sincere hope that beyond this, we will all reflect on why that might be."

Caroline Linton contributed to this report.</s>At least one person is dead and three others have been injured after a gunman opened fire inside of a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida.

The incident occurred around 6:00 pm at Hot Yoga studio near Thomasville Road and Bradford.

Not much is known about the shooting at this time, however, witnesses at a restaurant which is housed below the studio, told authorities that a panicked woman rushed into the bar asking for help and a man who appeared to be bleeding from the head came in after her. The pair told authorities that a tall man with a beard walked inside of the studio and began acting strangely before he opened fire. The man also told authorities that when he attempted to stop the gunman, the gunman allegedly pistol-whipped him before fatally turning the gun on himself.

The motive behind the shooting is unclear at this time.

Governor candidate, Andrew Gillum interrupted his campaigning to respond to the shooting saying:</s>Official: Shooter killed himself, wounded at least four others at Florida yoga studio

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Official: Shooter killed himself, wounded at least four others at Florida yoga studio.</s>A gunman killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida before killing himself, officials said.

Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small shopping centre, on Friday evening.

The suspect then turned the gun on himself, Mr DeLeo said.

Early on Saturday morning, the Tallahassee Police Department identified the gunman as Scott Paul Beierle, 40.

The two people who were killed were named as Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21.

Dr Van Vessem was an internist who served as chief medical director for Capital Health Plan, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported.

Capital Health Plan paid tribute in a statement: “As CHP’s longtime chief medical director, Nancy has been a guiding, visionary force in our daily work to serve the wellness and health care needs of thousands of families in this community.

“Her dedication, caring, leadership, humanity, and experience made her one of the most respected, inspiring, and accomplished medical professionals in the state and country.

“Our hearts are filled with sorrow and prayers for her family. We all have been so blessed to have Nancy in our lives,” the company said.

Florida State University President John Thrasher said Dr Van Vessem and Ms Binkley had links with the university, the Democrat reported.

“To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family.

“We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura’s and Nancy’s loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured,” Mr Thrasher said in a statement.

Mr DeLeo said police are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police.

He said the gunman acted alone and authorities are investigating possible motives. He declined to say what kind of weapon was used.

“We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening,” Mr DeLeo said.

Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three people from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active gunman.

“It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” she said.

The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the gunman.

They told her the shooter kept coming in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding the windows of the studio to warn people.

City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook: “In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray.”

Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shopping centre and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances.

“You don’t think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said the 26-year-old, who lives locally.

The plaza is home to popular restaurants, a jewellery store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses.

Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant located below the yoga studio when they heard the gunshots above them.

“We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow’,” he said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.”

The restaurant’s owner arrived a short time later, asking if anyone was a doctor, Mr Wesson said. His stepdaughter is an emergency room nurse and helped paramedics for about an hour, he added.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, broke off the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. He had earlier appeared at a campaign event with former president Barack Obama.

Late on Friday night, Mr Gillum spoke to reporters near the scene of the shooting to say that he had visited in the hospital two people who were shot at the yoga studio. The mayor said they were in good spirits despite their injuries.

He asked residents to pray for those who survived and those who were killed in the shooting.

“We all feel a sense of added vulnerability” because of the shooting, the mayor said.

Republican Governor Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, called Mr DeLeo and the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get details of the shooting.

“I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance,” he tweeted.

Tallahassee’s crime and murder rate has been an issue in the governor’s race, with Mr Gillum’s opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis, calling the capital Florida’s most crime-ridden city, a claim that is incorrect.</s>Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter.</s>Police in Florida have named the gunman who shot two people to death and wounded five others at a yoga studio before turning the gun on himself.

Tallahassee police said Scott Paul Beierle, 40, shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the yoga studio that sits on the second floor of the small shopping plaza.

Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo said some in the studio showed courage and tried to stop him.

Witnesses who were at the shopping centre described how people who had been in the studio, including one who was bleeding, ran away, seeking shelter in nearby bars and restaurants as shots rang out.

Police responded within a few minutes, but by then Beirele had fatally shot himself, leaving police to search for a motive and a community to wonder what prompted the violence near the city’s fashionable neighbourhoods.

“You don’t think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to,” said Elle Welling, who said she saw at least three people put into ambulances as she was leaving a shop across the street.

The two killed on Friday were a student and faculty member at Florida State University, according to university officials.

The department identified them as Dr Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21.

Police said two other victims were in a stable condition, and three had been released from the hospital. Officers at the scene in Florida’s capital (Steve Cannon/AP)

Police said Beierle acted alone but they were still looking into what prompted the shooting.

During a late night press briefing, Mr DeLeo declined to say what kind of gun he had.

Court records show that he had been previously arrested for grabbing women. Tallahassee police chief Michael DeLeo speaks to the press at the scene of the shooting (Steve Cannon/AP)

Beierle was charged by police with battery in 2016 after he slapped and grabbed a woman’s buttocks at an apartment complex pool.

Records show that the charges were eventually dismissed after Beierle followed the conditions of a deferred prosecution agreement.

Beierle was also charged with battery in 2012 for grabbing women’s buttocks in a Florida State University campus dining hall.

An FSU police report shows that Beierle told police he may have accidentally bumped into someone, but denied grabbing anyone.

Erskin Wesson, 64, said he was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant below the yoga studio when they heard the gunshots above them.

“We just heard ‘pow, pow, pow, pow’,” Mr Wesson said. “It sounded like a limb falling on a tin roof and rolling.”

The restaurant’s owner came past a short time later, asking if anyone was a doctor, Mr Wesson said. His step-daughter is a nurse and helped paramedics for about an hour, he said.

Melissa Hutchinson said she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who rushed into a bar after the incident. She said three people from the studio ran in, and they were told there was an active gunman. Police at the scene after the shooting in Tallahassee, Florida (Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat/AP)

“It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” Ms Hutchinson said.

The people who came in were injured, including the bleeding man who was pistol-whipped while trying to stop the gunman.

They told her the gunman kept coming in and out of the studio. When he loaded his gun, people started pounding on the studio’s windows to warn people.

Both governor Rick Scott and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor, broke off from the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee.

Mr Scott and Mr Gillum both visited gunshot victims, including one who had been shot nine times.

Mr Gillum asked residents to pray for the survivors and those who were killed.

“We all feel a sense of added vulnerability” because of the shooting, the mayor said.- Press Association</s>A gunman opened fire inside a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, killing two women and wounding five other people before killing himself, authorities said. Tallahassee police identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40.

A total of seven victims were taken to a local hospital, police said. Six suffered from gunshot wounds and one had been pistol-whipped. Two of the victims died, while another two are in stable condition. Three have been released.

Police believe the gunman acted alone, and Police Chief Michael DeLeo said there is no threat to the community. "There is no immediate threat outside what has already occurred this evening," DeLeo said.

The motive is still unknown, police said.

Elle Welling, a resident who lives nearby, said she watched several people being loaded into an ambulance. "You don't think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to," Welling told The Associated Press.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, said he's stepping away from the campaign trail and returning to the city.

"I'm deeply appreciative of law enforcement's quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable," he tweeted. "I'm in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight."

This story is developing. Check back for updates.</s>Two people have tragically died after a gunman opened fire at a hot yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida Friday before killing himself.

Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo explained in a news conference, that a man, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, shot six people after barging into the studio located in a small shopping center.

Another man was pistol-whipped as he bravely tried to tackle the shooter, the reports. The shooter then turned the gun on himself, according to the Associated Press.

Kristin Jacobs, a Democratic politician who is a representative for Broward County— the same community in which a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida killing seventeen students in February, witnessed the aftermath of the shooting at a nearby bar.

“A girl ran into the bar. She could hardly talk. She was hyperventilating. I heard her say ‘shooter.’ Two other women came in, and I kept hearing the word ‘shooter,'” Jacobs told the .

Jacobs also came across the pistol-whipped victim. “Many people are alive because this guy rushed the shooter,” Jacobs explained to the , adding that the man had a “bloodied head.”

Authorities believe the shooter acted alone and are currently investigating all possible motives including whether it was a domestic dispute.

“We’re all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it’s important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening,” DeLeo told reporters.

Following the horrific incident, Melissa Hutchinson, a resident of Tallahassee, told NBC Miami that she helped treat a “profusely” bleeding man who ran into a bar following the shooting.
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“It was a shocking moment something happened like this,” Hutchinson said after explaining that three other people from the yoga studio ran in seeking refuge.

In wake of the devastating incident, Florida Governor candidate Andrew Gillum halted his campaign to direct his attention towards the shooting.

“I’m deeply appreciative of law enforcement’s quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable. I’m in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight,” Gillum tweeted.

Republican Governor Rick Scott also spoke on the shooting tweeting, “I have been briefed by FDLE and local law enforcement regarding the shooting in Tallahassee. FDLE is on the scene and assisting local police.”

“I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance,” Scott added.

City Commissioner Scott Maddox, who was on the scene, wrote about the incident on Facebook.

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“Left the scene. Have no words to express the sadness I fell. How do you make sense of a senseless act of evil. We must continue to talk to our children. Be kind to one another. Be civil always condemn those that spew hate. We can no longer ignore hatred. We must act… and most of all we must pray,” Maddox wrote.

At this time the names of the victims have not been released, and it is not clear what kind of weapon the gunman had.</s>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Police: Death toll in shooting at Florida yoga studio rises to three, including shooter.</s>Scene outside a Yoga studio in Florida where four people have been wounded and a gunman shot himself. Picture: via FirstCoastNews

Scene outside a Yoga studio in Florida where four people have been wounded and a gunman shot himself. Picture: via FirstCoastNews

FLORIDA police have confirmed four people were shot at a yoga studio by an gunman who then turned his weapon on himself.

Tallahassee City spokeswoman Alison Faris told local media the shooter is dead, and four wounded have been rushed to hospital.

First Coast News reports a witness saw a man run into a bar hyperventilating, followed shortly after by a blood-splattered man. The witness said two or three other people followed, seeking assitence.

They described a tall bearded man had been inside the Hot Yoga Studio 'acting strange' before opening fire on a class.

"The man with blood on his head told the patrons he tried to stop the shooter but was pistol-whipped before the shooter then shot himself," First Coast News reports.

No details on the state of the injured has yet been released.

Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is running for the position of Florida's governor, said he is returning to the city and is communication with law enforcement officials.

MORE TO COME
A gunman kills two people and injures five others before killing himself at a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, United States.