2 killed, 5 others injured in shooting at Florida yoga studio

A lone shooter opened fire in a Tallahassee yoga studio on Friday, shooting two fatally and injuring five others, officials said.

The suspect, identified early Saturday as Florida resident Scott Paul Beierle, 40, died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday evening.

{mosads}Tallahassee police identified the two people who were killed as Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21.

Police are reportedly investigating possible motives, but declined to offer further details about the shooter, The Associated Press reported.

Police and authorities told Reuters that members of the yoga class fought back against the shooter before he killed himself. The gunman reportedly pistol-whipped a man who rushed him after he began shooting.

“There were indications that several people not only fought back but tried to save other people,” Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters, according to Reuters. 

Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said Friday that he would depart the campaign trail to return to the state’s capital city after Friday’s shooting.

“I’m deeply appreciative of law enforcement’s quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable. I’m in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight,” Gillum tweeted Friday evening.

Gillum is running against former Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) to replace Gov. Rick Scott (R) in one of the nation’s most closely watched races. Nonpartisan elections forecaster The Cook Political Report has rated the contest a “toss-up,” and a RealClearPolitics average of polling shows Gillum with a 2.7-percentage point edge.