TPD announces 2nd arrest in FAMU shooting; social media comments cited as motive

Christopher Cann, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
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The deadly mass shooting on the campus of Florida A&M University that injured four people and killed an innocent bystander stemmed from social media comments, police said.

News of the gunman's motive comes as the Tallahassee Police Department announced that a second Tallahassee man has been arrested in connection with the shooting at the basketball courts just outside the FAMU Hansel Tookes Student Recreation Center.

Chedderick Thomas, 21, faces one count of first-degree homicide and four counts of attempted homicide. Last week, Da'Vhon Young Jr., 21, was arrested on the same charges.

Travis Huntley
Travis Huntley

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TPD Violent Crimes Unit determined that Young drove Thomas to the college campus Nov. 27 "to shoot a male over comments made on social media," TPD said in a news alert.

"Thomas fired multiple shots into a crowd on the basketball courts and subsequently fled the scene with Young in a vehicle," according to TPD.

Over a dozen shots were fired at a crowd of more than 12 people who were either playing basketball or watching the games.

Three men and a 16-year-old boy were hurt and taken to a local hospital. Travis Huntley, 20, died from his injuries at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Huntley was a beloved Tallahassee native who consistently played at the FAMU courts since his days as a Baby Rattler. He was scheduled to start a job at Habitat For Humanity, where he had previously volunteered, last week.

Back story:21-year-old charged in FAMU mass shooting; father arrested in separate murder a month earlier

In October 2021, Thomas plead no contest to a pair of grand theft charges for which he served 30 days in jail and was placed on a three year probation. His only other charge, before the mass shooting, was driving without a license.

Thomas and Young remain in the Leon County Detention Facility without bail. Thomas' first appearance is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU mass shooting: Tallahassee police arrest second suspect