Florida Institute of Technology security, police fatally shoot armed student
MELBOURNE, Fla. Dec 6, 2021– The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after officers shot and killed an armed man on the campus of the Florida Institute of Technology.
Melbourne police and security at the school responded to a report of an armed man “assaulting students” just before 11 p.m. on campus.
Students were immediately sent an advisory to shelter in place from campus security.
Police say they confronted the suspect who was inside a campus building.
Investigators say the man refused to cooperate with their commands and lunged at officers with a weapon.
A Melbourne police officer and an FIT security officer both fired in response, striking the suspect who died at the scene. He has been identified as Alhaji M. Sow, 18.
Police say Sow is a current FIT student from Riverdale, Georgia.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the case. FIT and authorities say this was an isolated incident and there is no longer a threat to anyone on campus.
One officer reportedly sustained an injury during the confrontation with the suspect.
Video shows blood on the ground and wall of the second floor of the building.
Florida Tech says no other students were seriously hurt.
Several students say they heard shots when they took cover inside their dorms.
“We got a text from a group chat that said, ‘Hey, I think I just heard gunshots. We should secure in place,'” said Freshman Jillian Earley. “It was pretty nuts to say the least. You’re watching YouTube videos with friends on a Friday night and then – bam! – you have to go hide in your room.”
Many are thankful they’re safe.
“The guy was only two floors below us the whole time. If no one had stopped him, he could have come up to my floor and no one was out there,” Earley said.
