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FSU gunman remembered as hard worker, ‘kindest, sweetest person’ by baffled friends, acquaintances FSU gunman remembered as hard worker, ‘kindest, sweetest person’ by baffled friends, acquaintances
(35 minutes later)
Earlier this month, Myron May turned up at his old high school in tiny Wewahitchka, Fla.Earlier this month, Myron May turned up at his old high school in tiny Wewahitchka, Fla.
It was an unexpected visit, said Jay Bidwell, May’s former basketball and track-and-field coach; but it was a pleasant one, Bidwell said.It was an unexpected visit, said Jay Bidwell, May’s former basketball and track-and-field coach; but it was a pleasant one, Bidwell said.
“We were happy to see each other, and I thought he was pretty excited to be here,” said Bidwell, who also serves as Wewahitchka High School’s principal. “He was in a good mood and everything.”“We were happy to see each other, and I thought he was pretty excited to be here,” said Bidwell, who also serves as Wewahitchka High School’s principal. “He was in a good mood and everything.”
On Thursday, Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo identified May as the gunman who opened fire at a library at Florida State University, a school at which he was an alumnus. Three students were wounded in the attack in Tallahassee, and May was killed in a shootout with police.On Thursday, Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo identified May as the gunman who opened fire at a library at Florida State University, a school at which he was an alumnus. Three students were wounded in the attack in Tallahassee, and May was killed in a shootout with police.
“I’d like to know why it happened, but I have no insight,” Bidwell told The Post. “I called my wife, and she knew him real well, and when I told her what happened, she’d a likely fainted she was so distraught.”“I’d like to know why it happened, but I have no insight,” Bidwell told The Post. “I called my wife, and she knew him real well, and when I told her what happened, she’d a likely fainted she was so distraught.”
#WeAreFSU pic.twitter.com/8wENDGk9BT — Florida State Univ. (@floridastate) November 20, 2014#WeAreFSU pic.twitter.com/8wENDGk9BT — Florida State Univ. (@floridastate) November 20, 2014
#WeAreFSU pic.twitter.com/8wENDGk9BT#WeAreFSU pic.twitter.com/8wENDGk9BT
— Florida State Univ. (@floridastate) November 20, 2014— Florida State Univ. (@floridastate) November 20, 2014
Students cramming for semester exams dove behind stacks of books and hid under desks as the assailant opened fire with a handgun, authorities say. At a Thursday afternoon news conference, authorities said shots were fired inside and outside the building, and the three victims included two students and one employee.Students cramming for semester exams dove behind stacks of books and hid under desks as the assailant opened fire with a handgun, authorities say. At a Thursday afternoon news conference, authorities said shots were fired inside and outside the building, and the three victims included two students and one employee.
Two were transported to Tallahassee Memorial HeathCare hospital. The third was treated at the scene.Two were transported to Tallahassee Memorial HeathCare hospital. The third was treated at the scene.
One victim shot inside lobby area, two shot outside lobby of Strozier. Some were students, one was an employee who was an FSU graduate. — FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014One victim shot inside lobby area, two shot outside lobby of Strozier. Some were students, one was an employee who was an FSU graduate. — FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014
One victim shot inside lobby area, two shot outside lobby of Strozier. Some were students, one was an employee who was an FSU graduate.One victim shot inside lobby area, two shot outside lobby of Strozier. Some were students, one was an employee who was an FSU graduate.
— FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014— FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014
“Myron May is the kindest, sweetest person you ever know,” said Osei Boakye, who said he was May’s freshman-year roommate at Florida State. “Myron May will get you the shirt off his back. … Without confirmation, I can’t believe it’s true, just because it’s not the Myron I know. I can’t believe it.”“Myron May is the kindest, sweetest person you ever know,” said Osei Boakye, who said he was May’s freshman-year roommate at Florida State. “Myron May will get you the shirt off his back. … Without confirmation, I can’t believe it’s true, just because it’s not the Myron I know. I can’t believe it.”
Boakye, who spoke by phone as he stood in line at an airport-security checkpoint, remembered May as bright, willing to engage in debate, and deeply religious. He said May wasn’t just some guy he shared a cramped dorm with — he was a close friend.Boakye, who spoke by phone as he stood in line at an airport-security checkpoint, remembered May as bright, willing to engage in debate, and deeply religious. He said May wasn’t just some guy he shared a cramped dorm with — he was a close friend.
“For what it’s worth, my heart goes out to all the victims and their families,” Boakye said. “This is not the Myron that I knew. This is not the Myron that anybody knows.”“For what it’s worth, my heart goes out to all the victims and their families,” Boakye said. “This is not the Myron that I knew. This is not the Myron that anybody knows.”
TPD defines gunman's sense of crisis: "struggling psychologically, emotionally." — FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014TPD defines gunman's sense of crisis: "struggling psychologically, emotionally." — FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014
TPD defines gunman's sense of crisis: "struggling psychologically, emotionally."TPD defines gunman's sense of crisis: "struggling psychologically, emotionally."
— FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014— FSView (@FSView) November 20, 2014
Bidwell said that May moved from Ohio to Florida live with his grandmother, who was “almost like a saint in our community.” He was in eighth grade at the time, and initially had some minor disciplinary issues; but, Bidwell said, May was considered a “good kid” when he left for college.Bidwell said that May moved from Ohio to Florida live with his grandmother, who was “almost like a saint in our community.” He was in eighth grade at the time, and initially had some minor disciplinary issues; but, Bidwell said, May was considered a “good kid” when he left for college.
“He turned his life around and became something,” Bidwell said. “We’re a tiny school and we don’t have many lawyers come out of here.”“He turned his life around and became something,” Bidwell said. “We’re a tiny school and we don’t have many lawyers come out of here.”
May played basketball, ran distance for the school’s cross-country team, and was a long-jumper during track season. He participated in his classes, and — when he made it to law school at Texas Tech — was seen as a local success story.May played basketball, ran distance for the school’s cross-country team, and was a long-jumper during track season. He participated in his classes, and — when he made it to law school at Texas Tech — was seen as a local success story.
“He wasn’t a super athlete, but he was a super hard worker,” Bidwell said, “one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached.”“He wasn’t a super athlete, but he was a super hard worker,” Bidwell said, “one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached.”
May’s Facebook page is full of conspiratorial and religious-themed postings, including his last post at 7:57 p.m. on Tuesday in which he wrote:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 5:3”
On Sunday, he shared a photo on his page of a the Google home page with the words “Targeted individuals” typed into the search box.
The day before, May posted a link to a video clip from the television show “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura.” The clip features a man named Dr. Robert Duncan who, the narrator states, “put together the technology that allows the government to transmit thoughts and voices into the heads of Americans.”
“IS OUR GOVERNMENT VIOLATING ORDINARY CITIZENS’ RIGHTS?” May commented above the video. “UNFORTUNATELY, THE ANSWER IS YES! SEE INSIDE THIS VIDEO”
Abigail Taunton, who lives in Wewahitchka and runs a children’s home there, knew May as a teen. She said May had stayed in her guest house recently upon returning to Florida. After working as an attorney in Texas and New Mexico, Taunton said, May was out of work and considering filing for bankruptcy due to some “financial issues.” But, she said, he was studying for Florida’s state bar.Abigail Taunton, who lives in Wewahitchka and runs a children’s home there, knew May as a teen. She said May had stayed in her guest house recently upon returning to Florida. After working as an attorney in Texas and New Mexico, Taunton said, May was out of work and considering filing for bankruptcy due to some “financial issues.” But, she said, he was studying for Florida’s state bar.
“He seemed a little down about his situation when we talked about it,” Taunton said. “But everyone who knows Myron is just in shock. The Myron we know would not have done something like this. It has to be some kind of mental health issue.”“He seemed a little down about his situation when we talked about it,” Taunton said. “But everyone who knows Myron is just in shock. The Myron we know would not have done something like this. It has to be some kind of mental health issue.”
The last time she saw May, she said, was on Saturday, when he spent the afternoon watching the Ohio State–Minnesota football game. On Sunday, she said, he traveled to Tallahassee, where, he told her, he was planning to stay with a friend.The last time she saw May, she said, was on Saturday, when he spent the afternoon watching the Ohio State–Minnesota football game. On Sunday, she said, he traveled to Tallahassee, where, he told her, he was planning to stay with a friend.
“He seemed to have a bright future,” she said, “but I guess that wasn’t the case.”“He seemed to have a bright future,” she said, “but I guess that wasn’t the case.”
[This post has been updated.][This post has been updated.]