Second year SBI student Jaelyn Falana.
Photo Submitted by Jaelyn Falana.
Jaelyn Falana believes she is a lucky woman.
A sophomore business administration major at FAMU,
Falana found herself in the middle of a shootout earlier this semester.
Falana went to visit a friend in Aqua Palms apartments. Falana was sitting outside with her friend Maria in the parking lot when an unidentified male ran toward their direction.
Falana remembers two dark colored cars coming full speed and gunshots, then she ran.
Falana said she didn’t think to grab her phone or keys. She just ran.
“My initial thoughts were to get out of the line of fire. I understand if I would have stayed in the car it would have been a worse situation because they had my car blocked in,” Falana said.
She continued, “The best bet was to run because other things can be replaced but not your life. I was more worried about getting back into the apartment.”
Falana remembers her friend crying, her friend’s boyfriend being in shock and her adrenaline running.
This happened between 8:40 and 9 p.m. Jan. 16.
They made it safely into the apartment.
A few minutes later Falana realized she left her phone and keys outside so she said someone call 911 in a panic.
Maria’s roommate called 911 after someone in the neighborhood had called.
Tallahassee Police officers surrounded the crime scene.
Falana’s mother, Stephanie Bell, said, “The first thing I asked was if anything had happened to Jaelyn. Then my heart dropped because I would have never thought I would get a phone call about my daughter being in a dangerous situation like that.”
Falana admitted she was too scared to go outside, her friends checked on her car while she spoke with TPD.
“The police was so rude about the situation. I went through a lot with the police. I was trying to file a police report on the scene and the officer bushed me off and said, ‘You could just do it online,’” Falana said.
Falana explained to TPD the vandalized car was hers and the essence of what had occurred.
Falana searched for the “Find My IPhone” app, and begun to track her cellphone.
“My phone was on the go, someone had my phone. They were driving far away from the scene with my phone,” Falana said.
An unidentified male attempted to steal her car then hit the back of another car trying to flee the scene.
“No one seemed to care. As if it was common. I guess things like that happen often in Aqua Palms,” said Falana.
Falana is scheduled to get her car repaired during spring break.
“I was caught by surprise and I was scared. I will not be living here next semester, said Maria Lee, FAMU senior accounting major.
Lee continued,
“I already signed a new lease. I did not call the office because I figured they wouldn’t care just like the police.”
“Do your research on student apartments,” Falana went to visit a friend in Aqua Palms apartments. Falana was sitting outside of her friend’s apartment talking to her friend Maria in the parking lot, when an unidentified male ran towards their direction.
Falana remembers two dark color cars coming full speed and gunshots, then she ran.
Falana said, she didn’t think to grab her phone or keys she just ran.
“My initial thoughts were to get out of the line of fire. I understand if I would have stayed in the car it would have been a worst situation because they had my car blocked in,” Falana said.
“They may be in your price range but check the criminal activity. I’m pretty sure there are more reasonable apartments out there with lower crime rates or no crime rate at all.”
Falana continued,
“You might pay cheap rent but bullets may just fly through your window. Move where you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your car or getting shot walking to your apartment.”