Tallahassee Yoga Studio Shooting: Victims and Gunman Identified

Zachary Stieber
11/3/2018
Updated:
11/3/2018
The gunman and two people he killed at a Tallahassee, Florida yoga studio have been identified.
The Nov. 2 shooting, which also left five others wounded, took place at Hot Yoga Tallahassee. The shooter killed himself after shooting six people and pistol-whipping another. He was identified by the Tallahassee Police Department as Scott Paul Beierle.

The two victims who succumbed to their injuries were identified as Maura Binkley, 21, and Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61.

Three of the victims were treated and released while two others are in the hospital in stable condition.

Police investigators work the scene of a shooting in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 2, 2018. A shooter killed one person and critically wounded four others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself Friday, officials said. (Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat via AP)
Police investigators work the scene of a shooting in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 2, 2018. A shooter killed one person and critically wounded four others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself Friday, officials said. (Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat via AP)

‘Hearts Filled With Sorrow’

Van Vessem served as chief medical director for Capital Health Plan.
“As CHP’s longtime chief medical director, Nancy has been a guiding, visionary force in our daily work to serve the wellness and health care needs of thousands of families in this community,” the company said in a statement obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.

“Her dedication, caring, leadership, humanity, and experience made her one of the most respected, inspiring, and accomplished medical professionals in the state and country. Our hearts are filled with sorrow and prayers for her family. We all have been so blessed to have Nancy in our lives,” the statement continued.

Both she and Binkley had ties to Florida State University.

Police investigators work the scene of a shooting, Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
Police investigators work the scene of a shooting, Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

‘Shock and Grief’

“There are no words to express the shock and grief we feel after learning of the deaths of Maura Binkley and Dr. Nancy Van Vessem,” university President John Thrasher said in a statement.

“To lose one of our students and one of our faculty members in this tragic and violent way is just devastating to the Florida State University family. We feel this loss profoundly and we send our deepest sympathies to Maura’s and Nancy’s loved ones while we pray for the recovery of those who were injured,” he said.

City Commissioner Scott Maddox said in a statement that he had visited the scene of the shooting.

“Have no words to express the sadness I feel. How do you make sense of a senseless act of evil,” he wrote.

“We must continue to talk to our children. Be kind to one another. Be civil always and condemn those that spew hate. We can no longer ignore hatred. We must act... and most of all we must pray,” he continued.

From NTD.tv