Three dead, five injured after shooting in Florida yoga studio

TALLAHASSEE ( Florida): A gunman killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida’s capital before killing himself, officials said.

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

The suspect then fatally shot himself, DeLeo said.

Early yesterday morning, the Tallahassee police department identified the shooter as Scott Paul Beierle, 40.

They identified the two people who were killed as Dr Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21.

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

Florida State University president John Thrasher says Van Vessem and Binkley had ties to 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,” Thrasher said in a statement.

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

He said the shooter acted alone and authorities are investigating possible motives.

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 shooter.