Gov. DeSantis orders flags flown at half-staff in honor of FSU shooting victims

Flags across Florida will fly at half-staff Monday, to honor Florida State University, the victims of Thursday’s shooting at the Tallahassee school and the first responders who ran toward the danger.

In a Friday memo, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Florida Director of Real Estate Development Management Brian Fienemann to have the United States and Florida flags lowered at all local and state facilities Monday.

They’ll remain so until sunset that day.

The Governor’s order came less than a day after a gunman opened fire on the FSU campus, killing two and hospitalizing six others. The 20-year-old shooter, who remains in custody, is the son of a longtime Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy.

After the shooting, DeSantis’ schedule shows he spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel and visited victims at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with First Lady Casey DeSantis.

He later posted a video online demanding that the killer “be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law” and thanking police for their bravery.

“They stopped this killer from inflicting more harm, and there’s no question that they saved lives. We are all Seminoles today. We stand by to help in any way that we can,” he said.

“Casey and I stand in solidarity and are praying for the entire Florida State community. We’re mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well of those who are currently recovering in the hospital.”

The shooting Thursday was not the first time gunfire rang out on FSU’s campus. In 2014, a former student tried to enter the school’s Strozier Library with a handgun. Two students received minor injuries. A third was paralyzed before campus police killed the shooter.