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The Attorney, The Paranoia, And The Library: 7 Shocking Facts About FSU Shooter Myron May's Final Days

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The 2014 shooting at Florida State University's Strozier Library remains one of the most chilling examples of a mental health crisis escalating into a public tragedy. As of December 23, 2025, the details surrounding the gunman, Myron May, continue to offer a profound, if disturbing, case study into the failure of support systems and the devastating impact of untreated severe mental illness. This article provides a deep, updated look into the life and final actions of the FSU shooter, revealing the critical signs that were missed and the desperate attempts made by those who tried to help him. The suspect, Myron May, was not a disgruntled student but a former FSU student senator and practicing attorney whose life had spiraled into paranoia and financial distress. His calculated actions—mailing packages to friends before the event—suggested a final, desperate attempt to document a terrifying internal reality that ultimately led to the violence on the FSU campus. While the event occurred in 2014, its lessons on mental health awareness and institutional response are more critical than ever.

Myron May: A Profile of the FSU Strozier Library Gunman

Myron May was identified as the shooter who opened fire at the Florida State University Strozier Library in the early hours of November 20, 2014. His background as an accomplished alumnus made the violence particularly shocking to the Tallahassee community.

  • Full Name: Myron May
  • Age at Time of Incident: 31 years old
  • Date of Incident: November 20, 2014
  • Location of Incident: Strozier Library, Florida State University (FSU)
  • Victims: Three people were shot and wounded (two students and one university employee).
  • Education: Graduated from Florida State University in 2005. Graduated from Texas Tech Law School in 2009.
  • Previous Roles: Served as an FSU student senator in 2002; was a practicing attorney since 2009, including work in Houston, Texas.
  • Cause of Death: Fatally shot by FSU and Tallahassee police officers outside the library.
  • Psychological Profile: Described as having a "severe mental disorder" and exhibiting psychotic behavior and paranoia.

The Descent into Paranoia: Myron May's Mental Health Crisis

The core motive behind the Strozier Library shooting was not an act of revenge against the university but a catastrophic manifestation of a severe mental health crisis. May's life had been unraveling in the months leading up to the tragedy, marked by financial struggles and profound psychological distress.

A Fear of Being Targeted by the Government

In the weeks before the shooting, Myron May was exhibiting extreme paranoia. He kept journals and made videos in which he expressed a deep fear of being targeted by the government. This delusion was a central theme in his final days, leading him to believe he was under surveillance and being hunted.

The Role of Psychiatric Drugs and Failed Treatment

May was actively seeking treatment for his mental health issues and was reportedly taking psychiatric drugs. His former roommate, Keith Jones, indicated that the combination of his mental status and the medications "may have caused some of this." Tragically, even with friends expressing concern to his mental health care provider, the system failed to intervene effectively, leaving him in a state of crisis.

7 Shocking Details from Myron May's Final Hours

The final timeline of the FSU shooting reveals a chilling, pre-meditated act driven by May's fractured reality. These seven facts highlight the desperate nature of his final actions and the evidence he left behind.

  1. He Mailed 10 Packages to Friends Before the Attack. Authorities intercepted about ten packages May had mailed to friends and family across the country just prior to the shooting. These packages were believed to contain videos and journals that detailed his mental state and his descent into paranoia, serving as a final, dark testament.
  2. He Had a Prior Run-in with New Mexico Police. May had previously contacted police in New Mexico, where he was living, to express his fears of being targeted. This interaction occurred shortly before he drove back to Tallahassee.
  3. He Was an FSU Alumnus and Former Student Senator. May was not a stranger to the FSU campus; he was a graduate of the university and had been an active student leader, serving as a student senator in 2002. This connection made the Strozier Library a deliberate, if tragic, choice.
  4. He Used a .380 Semi-Automatic Pistol. The weapon used in the attack was a .380 semi-automatic pistol. May reloaded the weapon at least once during the brief but terrifying ordeal outside the library entrance.
  5. The Attack Occurred During Finals Week. The shooting took place shortly after midnight when the Strozier Library was packed with students studying for final exams, maximizing the potential for mass casualties.
  6. He Tried to Enter the Library, but Was Stopped by Police. Surveillance video showed May entering the library vestibule, but he was prevented from entering the main study area by police. The confrontation and subsequent shootout that led to his death occurred outside the building's entrance.
  7. An Autopsy Confirmed Drugs Were in His System. A later autopsy confirmed that Myron May had drugs in his system when he was killed by police, adding another layer of complexity to his psychological state at the time of the shooting.

The Aftermath and Lingering Questions of System Failure

The immediate aftermath of the November 20, 2014, shooting saw a massive response from the Tallahassee Police Department and FSU campus police. The three victims—two students and a library employee—were wounded but survived, a fact often attributed to the quick response of law enforcement who were already on campus.

However, the enduring legacy of Myron May’s case centers on the systemic failures in mental health care. The fact that an individual with a documented history of severe mental disorder, who was actively seeking help, could still spiral into such a violent act highlights a critical gap. His friends and family had seen the warning signs, and the former attorney’s attempts to communicate his distress—even to law enforcement in New Mexico—were not enough to prevent the tragedy. The FSU shooting remains a stark reminder that mental health crises are often community crises, demanding a more robust and responsive intervention system to prevent future violence.

fsu shooting suspect
fsu shooting suspect

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