TL;DR: A 15-year-old arrested Oct. 25 over the shooting near Florida A&M's stadium that injured 12 people will be charged as an adult, prosecutors said, after a court hearing on Oct. 26 ordered him held in secure detention.
A 15-year-old boy arrested in connection with a shooting near Florida A&M University’s football stadium will be charged as an adult, prosecutors said on Monday, Oct. 26, two days after gunfire injured 12 people following the school’s homecoming game in Tallahassee, Florida.
Anthony Rivers III, 15, was arrested Sunday, Oct. 25, and made his first court appearance on Monday, Oct. 26. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent, according to the Tallahassee Police Department. State Attorney Jack Campbell said he will be charged as an adult. The charges are allegations, and Rivers is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The gunfire erupted on Oct. 24 behind Bragg Memorial Stadium following Florida A&M’s homecoming game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. At least 11 people were injured by gunfire, while one person was hurt during the ensuing panic. Six of those injured were children, the youngest 11 years old, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.
What happened in court on Monday
During a juvenile court hearing on Oct. 26, Leon Circuit Judge Andrew Sheeran ordered Rivers to be held in secure detention while his case is pending, which the judge said was required by statute given the nature of the charges. Campbell said Rivers will be transferred from the Juvenile Assessment Center to the Leon County Detention Facility.
The judge also told Rivers he was not to have any direct or indirect contact with the victims, and said his calls at the detention centre would be monitored. A lawyer for Rivers was not immediately listed in online court records, USA Today reported.
What police say happened before the shooting
Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between several people known to one another, but they have not said what sparked the altercation. Revell said detectives believe there was only a single shooter, but added that additional arrests are possible, and that none of the victims were believed to have been the intended targets.
That account matters for a community trying to understand the shooting. A dispute that spills into gunfire in a crowded, cordoned-off street after a game can injure bystanders who had nothing to do with the original argument, which is what police say appears to have happened here.
The victims and the investigation so far
Six victims remained in hospital as of Oct. 25, including one in critical condition, and five had been discharged. On Oct. 26, Leon County Schools told the Tallahassee Democrat that four students were among the injured. Police said a significant influx of information poured in from the community, and that tips and digital evidence from the public had been vital to the investigation.
Before the arrest, police had asked the public for cellphone video or tips from witnesses. The department said the investigation remains open and active, that detectives continue to pursue leads and review evidence, and that they are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
A separate earlier case mentioned in court coverage
USA Today also reported that Rivers is one of three teens arrested in connection with a shooting at Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee earlier this year. That shooting took place on Sept. 5 in an underground parking lot, and no one was hurt. At age 14 at the time, Rivers was not named by police and was not charged as an adult in that case, and because those juvenile court records are confidential, it is not clear if he faces ongoing charges there.
For the families of the 12 people hurt on Oct. 24, the adult-charge decision is only a first step. The case will now move through adult court proceedings, where prosecutors must prove the attempted-murder counts, while police continue to investigate whether anyone else played a role.
Featured image: representative scene photo, not a photo of the people or the exact location in this case. Image source: police scene photo
Sources: USA Today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the FAMU stadium shooting?
Anthony Rivers III, 15, arrested Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, according to Tallahassee police.
What charges does he face?
Eleven counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent. He will be charged as an adult, State Attorney Jack Campbell said.
When did the shooting happen?
On Oct. 24, 2026, behind Bragg Memorial Stadium after Florida A&M’s homecoming game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
How many people were injured?
Twelve in total: 11 by gunfire and one hurt during the ensuing panic. Six of the injured were children, the youngest 11.
What did the judge order on Oct. 26?
Leon Circuit Judge Andrew Sheeran ordered Rivers held in secure detention while the case is pending, with no contact with victims.
Were the victims targeted?
Police said none of the victims were believed to have been the intended targets, and that the shooting followed a dispute between people known to one another.
Could there be more arrests?
Yes. Police said additional arrests are possible and the investigation remains open and active.
