TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A 15-year-old boy faces 11 attempted murder charges after gunfire wounded 11 people, including six children, near Florida A&M University’s football stadium during homecoming weekend. Prosecutors plan to pursue the case in adult court. Police said the victims did not appear to be the intended targets.

Detectives arrested Anthony Rivers III on Sunday, Oct. 25, according to the Tallahassee Police Department. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent. Authorities announced the arrest Monday as investigators continued reviewing evidence and looking into whether others were involved.

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. Saturday near Perry and Manatee streets, outside Bragg Memorial Stadium. Investigators believe a fight among people who knew one another preceded the gunfire. Twelve people were injured overall, including a person who hurt an ankle while fleeing.

Six children among those shot near FAMU

The youngest victim was 11, Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. A grandmother of one of the shooting victims suffered the injury while escaping, authorities said. Revell also said he believed one of those injured was a FAMU student.

In a Sunday update, police said six victims remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition, while five others had been released. Those figures reflect the status reported Sunday, rather than a new assessment of their conditions Tuesday. ABC News reported the hospital update, along with the university’s offer of support to injured members of its community.

The shooting’s impact extended into local classrooms. Leon County Schools confirmed that four injured students attended three different schools, according to WCTV’s reporting. The district said counselors were available Monday to support students affected by the violence.

The injuries came nine days after another shooting left children dead in Oregon. Three students and a teacher were killed in the Oct. 15 attack at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where another child and teacher were critically injured. Authorities identified the suspected gunman in that separate case as a 16-year-old.

Prosecutors plan adult charges

Rivers appeared in court Monday, and a judge ordered him to remain detained. State Attorney Jack Campbell said prosecutors would move the case to adult court, The Associated Press reported. AP said court records did not identify an attorney who could comment on the charges.

Campbell said surveillance footage captured part of the shooting. Investigators were seeking additional video and witness accounts to establish what happened. The announcement of an arrest did not close the investigation.

Crowds blocked ambulance access

The crowd around the shooting scene complicated the emergency response. Revell said ambulances could not reach the wounded, requiring officers to carry victims through the crowd to emergency vehicles. The area was crowded with people leaving the game and homecoming festivities, AP reported.

FAMU President Marva Johnson said authorities had increased their presence around campus for homecoming. Although the shooting occurred nearby, it happened outside university grounds, leaving Tallahassee police to lead the investigation, according to Florida Phoenix. Johnson expressed outrage and sadness over the violence.

Homecoming traditions shaken

For vendors who return to Tallahassee each year, the shooting raised concerns about whether they would feel safe coming back. Stephanie Walters, who helps operate HBCU Culture Shop, told WCTV in a separate interview that she heard multiple gunshots. She had traveled from Tampa for the event for nine years.

Walters said the experience made her question whether she wanted to return, despite valuing the gathering’s traditions and community. “I don’t want to have to be concerned that the next time I show up, I may not leave,” she said.

Perry Street reopened Sunday afternoon as vendors returned to retrieve belongings left behind. Pastors and church leaders also gathered to pray for the community, WCTV reported from the area. Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor said he planned a Tuesday gathering with county leaders and residents to discuss safety and ways to prevent another shooting.

Questions remain about the gun and other suspects

Monday’s police announcement did not explain how Rivers allegedly obtained the firearm. Detectives said additional arrests remained possible as they worked to establish the full circumstances. Police credited information and digital evidence supplied by community members with helping advance the investigation.

Investigators asked anyone with information to call the dedicated tip line at 850-891-4610. The department’s announcement also provides an online portal for submitting photographs, videos and other evidence.