Tallahassee police are investigating the shooting death of Florida A&M freshman Brandon Brinson of Jacksonville.
Brinson, 19, was pronounced dead early Wednesday morning at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he was taken by friends after he was shot.
FAMU Police Department Lt. Angela Kirkland said Brinson was apparently shot on the corner of Pensacola Street and White Drive.
TPD officers arrived at TMH at 1:45 a.m. after learning about the gunshot wound. By then, Brinson had already been pronounced dead.
FAMU Dean of Students Henry L. Kirby said he spoke with Brinson’s parents to offer his condolences.
“At this point, we just want to let the family know that the university is sharing their grief,” Kirby said.
The family is trying to schedule a memorial service for Brinson and is working with Director of Student Activities Saundra Inge on the arrangements.
“Mrs. Inge will be working with General Studies and the family, but the family said they will let us know when it’s more of a convenient time for the service,” Kirby said.
Kirby has been a FAMU employee for 31 years. He said every year FAMU loses at least one student.
“No matter how many times you do this type of thing, in terms of calling a family, it’s never easy,” Kirby said. “It’s always difficult because you’re calling a parent about their particular son or daughter.”
Kirby said Brinson, a general studies student, was well-known around campus. It was unclear what kind of extracurricular activities he participated in. According to Kirkland, Brinson was involved in an altercation with two other students at FAMU’s Café in January.
Brinson was arrested and charged with one count of disorderly conduct. Kirkland downplayed any possible connection between the fight and the shooting.
“We are following all leads. Normally retaliation is slim,” she said. “It was a minor fight.”
TPD is asking anyone with information to call TPD at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-8477.