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Gunman in Yoga Studio Shooting Had Faced Charges of Battery Against Women, Records Show Gunman in Yoga Studio Shooting Had Faced Charges of Battery Against Women, Records Show
(about 2 hours later)
The police said on Saturday they still did not know what brought a 40-year-old man to a yoga studio on Friday in Tallahassee, Fla., where they say he shot and killed two women and injured five other people before shooting and killing himself.The police said on Saturday they still did not know what brought a 40-year-old man to a yoga studio on Friday in Tallahassee, Fla., where they say he shot and killed two women and injured five other people before shooting and killing himself.
However, a picture of the gunman, Scott P. Beierle of Deltona, Fla., and his victims, who were both connected to Florida State University, where Mr. Beierle had been arrested at least twice in the past, began to slowly emerge on Saturday. However, a picture of the gunman, Scott P. Beierle of Deltona, Fla., and his victims, who were both connected to Florida State University, where Mr. Beierle had been arrested at least twice in the past, began to slowly emerge.
Mr. Beierle arrived at the yoga studio shortly after 5:30 p.m., posing as a customer, and began shooting patrons with a handgun without warning, the police said.Mr. Beierle arrived at the yoga studio shortly after 5:30 p.m., posing as a customer, and began shooting patrons with a handgun without warning, the police said.
Some people inside the studio, Hot Yoga Tallahassee, fought back against Mr. Beierle, preventing a greater tragedy, Michael DeLeo, the chief of the Tallahassee Police Department, said in a statement on Saturday. People inside the studio, Hot Yoga Tallahassee, fought back against Mr. Beierle, preventing a greater tragedy, Michael DeLeo, the chief of the Tallahassee Police Department, said in a statement on Saturday.
Officials identified the victims who were shot and killed as Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21. Three of those injured had been released from the hospital as of Saturday morning. The other two were in stable condition, the police said. Four of the injured victims were women, and one was a man.Officials identified the victims who were shot and killed as Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, and Maura Binkley, 21. Three of those injured had been released from the hospital as of Saturday morning. The other two were in stable condition, the police said. Four of the injured victims were women, and one was a man.
John Thrasher, the president of Florida State University, said on Twitter on Saturday that Ms. Binkley was a student at the university and Dr. Van Vessem was a faculty member. A profile on the university’s website said Dr. Van Vessem was responsible for coordinating the third- and fourth-year clerkship rotations in internal medicine at the Tallahassee campus.John Thrasher, the president of Florida State University, said on Twitter on Saturday that Ms. Binkley was a student at the university and Dr. Van Vessem was a faculty member. A profile on the university’s website said Dr. Van Vessem was responsible for coordinating the third- and fourth-year clerkship rotations in internal medicine at the Tallahassee campus.
“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,” Mr. Thrasher said. Ms. Binkley, a senior, was set to graduate in May, said Azalee Vereen, her aunt. Ms. Binkley was majoring in journalism and German, and was preparing for life after college by applying for programs like Fulbright and Teach for America.
Ms. Binkley, who grew up in a northern suburb of Atlanta, was “very smart, very beautiful and just very giving,” Ms. Vereen said.
She said her niece enjoyed yoga classes but had not attended one in a while.
Chief DeLeo said Mr. Beierle was a graduate of Florida State University and had been staying a local hotel leading up to the shooting. Investigators are still trying to determine a connection between the gunman and the victims or the studio, the chief said.Chief DeLeo said Mr. Beierle was a graduate of Florida State University and had been staying a local hotel leading up to the shooting. Investigators are still trying to determine a connection between the gunman and the victims or the studio, the chief said.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on Saturday at Mr. Beierle’s home, and multiple search warrants were secured for his electronic devices and social media profiles.The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on Saturday at Mr. Beierle’s home, and multiple search warrants were secured for his electronic devices and social media profiles.
Records in Leon County, Fla., show that Mr. Beierle moved from Vestal, N.Y., near Binghamton, to Tallahassee in 2011.Records in Leon County, Fla., show that Mr. Beierle moved from Vestal, N.Y., near Binghamton, to Tallahassee in 2011.
Court records show that Mr. Beierle was charged in December 2012 with battery after a woman accused him of grabbing her buttocks at a dining hall on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The charges were dismissed in May 2013.Court records show that Mr. Beierle was charged in December 2012 with battery after a woman accused him of grabbing her buttocks at a dining hall on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The charges were dismissed in May 2013.
In 2014, Mr. Beierle was charged with trespassing at a dining hall on campus, and was given some sort of pretrial intervention, though it was unclear on Saturday exactly what that entailed or how the case was resolved.In 2014, Mr. Beierle was charged with trespassing at a dining hall on campus, and was given some sort of pretrial intervention, though it was unclear on Saturday exactly what that entailed or how the case was resolved.
In June 2016, Mr. Beierle was again charged with battery, but the charge was dismissed in 2017.In June 2016, Mr. Beierle was again charged with battery, but the charge was dismissed in 2017.
According to the local television station WCTV, the 2016 arrest happened after Mr. Beierle was accused of grabbing a woman’s buttocks at his apartment complex. Court records said he asked a woman who was sunbathing if he could rub sunscreen on her buttocks, and he grabbed them after she said no, the station reported.According to the local television station WCTV, the 2016 arrest happened after Mr. Beierle was accused of grabbing a woman’s buttocks at his apartment complex. Court records said he asked a woman who was sunbathing if he could rub sunscreen on her buttocks, and he grabbed them after she said no, the station reported.
A lawyer whose firm represented Mr. Beierle in the 2012 and 2016 cases, Don Pumphrey Jr., declined to comment on those cases Saturday. “Our hearts go out to the families,” he said.A lawyer whose firm represented Mr. Beierle in the 2012 and 2016 cases, Don Pumphrey Jr., declined to comment on those cases Saturday. “Our hearts go out to the families,” he said.
Jack Campbell, a Florida state attorney, declined to comment on the cases and referred questions to the Tallahassee Police Department, which did not respond to questions Saturday. Jack Campbell, a Florida state attorney, declined to comment on the cases and referred questions to the Tallahassee Police Department, which did not respond to questions on Saturday.
Pictures posted to a Facebook profile for Mr. Beierle show him posing with a cutout of Ronald Reagan. Other pictures show Mr. Beierle in a United States Army uniform.Pictures posted to a Facebook profile for Mr. Beierle show him posing with a cutout of Ronald Reagan. Other pictures show Mr. Beierle in a United States Army uniform.
On a LinkedIn profile, Scott Beierle said he was a deputy director for supply and logistics for the Army from 2008 to 2010. He said he distributed military resources, and also served as a “senior field artillery officer.”On a LinkedIn profile, Scott Beierle said he was a deputy director for supply and logistics for the Army from 2008 to 2010. He said he distributed military resources, and also served as a “senior field artillery officer.”
An Army spokesman said he was seeking to verify Mr. Beierle’s service record.An Army spokesman said he was seeking to verify Mr. Beierle’s service record.
Mr. Beierle was also an English and social studies teacher at Meade High School in Maryland from 2005 to 2007, when he resigned, said Bob Mosier, a spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Morgan Hall, a receptionist at Haute Headz Salon, which is in the same building as the yoga studio, said she first realized something was wrong on Friday when she saw a police officer pull up outside the building and run through the parking lot.
Ms. Hall said she believed the sound of blow dryers in the salon helped mask any sounds coming from the studio. The salon was crowded, with many girls getting their hair done for homecoming dances.
Officers told everyone in the salon to stay inside and lock the doors. Ms. Hall said she had been scared since.
“We took flowers up to the studio,” Ms. Hall said. “There’s lots of flowers and candles up there. It’s just unsettling, and you just never feel like you’re going to be unsafe in somewhere that you’re always so safe-feeling.”