Florida State gunman was a former BigLaw associate
The gunman who shot three people early Thursday at Florida State University has been identified as a lawyer who attended the school as an undergraduate, police told the Associated Press.
The gunman was shot and killed by campus police after shooting three people at the university’s library. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo identified the gunman as Myron May, who graduated from Florida State, according to the AP story. He graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2009, TTU’s office of communications and marketing confirmed to Texas Lawyer (sub. req.)
May was a former associate at Andrews Kurth, the Houston Chronicle reports in a story noted by Above the Law. Andrews Kurth confirmed to the Chronicle that May had worked at the firm and was no longer working there, but could not release when his tenure there began and ended.
One of the individuals shot early Thursday was hospitalized in critical condition and the other was in fair condition, the Miami Herald reports. The third person was grazed by a bullet and treated at the scene.
May was licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico, AP says. Abigail Taunton told AP that May had been staying at a guest house she owned and was planning to take the Florida bar exam in February.
May also worked at Kennard Law in Houston, the Houston Chronicle says. A LinkedIn profile for a person named Myron May lists employment at Andrews Kurth from 2009 to 2011 and at Kennard Law from 2011 to 2013.
Taunton, who runs a foster home with her husband, David, said she had known May since he was a teen and “we’re all just astounded.”
“He was well-liked, real smart. He was having some financial issues and moved back home and decided he’d come back to Florida to work,” Taunton told AP. “My heart’s broken. In a million years I wouldn’t have thought he’d do something like this. He was struggling, having decided that what he was doing out there was not good. He had some issues and just decided he’d come home. He was struggling, like we all do, financially and otherwise.”
David Taunton told Fox News that May seemed to be himself until he disappeared Friday night after having dinner with his grandmother. May did respond to Taunton’s email, however, saying that he was alright.
David Taunton told Fox News that May did tell him something that “raised worry,” but Taunton did not explain further.
According to AP, May’s Facebook page includes Bible verses and links to theories about the government being able to read people’s minds.
May’s Texas bar record listed Houston as his primary practice location and said he graduated from Texas Tech University law school in 2009. Several practice areas are listed, including consumer, criminal, insurance, employment, litigation, personal injury and LGBT law.
The State Bar of New Mexico lists May’s address as a post office box in Wewahitchka, Florida.
Last updated at 4:55 p.m. to note police and law firm confirmations of events.
