A Florida yoga studio that kills three dead, including a suspect

A gunman in Florida died after opening fire in a hot yoga studio in Tallahassee on Friday night, killing at least two people and injuring others, the police said.

The officers who responded arrived at the scene around 5:30 pm and found a total of five gunshot victims, said Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo in a Facebook video posted by the department.

The suspect is also likely to commit suicide, DeLeo said.

"The emergency responders immediately provided help and transported five victims to local hospitals for medical care. The shooter died with a possible self-inflicted bullet wound. A victim died at the hospital, "DeLeo said.

The other four wounded were in critical condition, he added.

The identity of the suspect and the victims was not immediately released.

Authorities believe that only one suspect was involved and pointed out that there remained no threat to the region.

"Obviously, we are all very sad and shocked by the events that have occurred," DeLeo said. "But it's important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has happened here tonight."

An investigation is underway on what DeLeo has described as "a very dynamic scene".

Senator Kristin Jacobs of the state of Florida told the Tallahassee Democrat that she was attending a party in an office at a nearby bar when she saw people running from the yoga studio. Jacobs, a Democrat, represents Parkland in Broward County, where a gunman killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February.

"One of the first things I heard was that there was a shootout," Jacobs told the newspaper.

Jacobs recounted how a man dressed in a bloody white t-shirt rushed into the bar and said that he had accused the shooter, who had then whipped him in the front pistol to turn against him.

"A lot of people are alive because this guy has rushed the shooter," Jacobs told the Democrat. "I'm alive because a barefoot guy in a yoga class ran against a shooter, he did not run away."

US Republican Representative Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who face each other in the state governor's race, both spoke on Twitter about the shooting.

"The news of the shooting in Tallahassee is heartbreaking," DeSantis said. tweeted. "Casey and I are praying for the families of the victim who tragically lost their lives tonight and for those transported to the hospital with injuries."

"I am deeply grateful for the rapid response of law enforcement officials to the shootings at the Tallahassee Yoga Center today," said Gillum. tweeted. "No act of armed violence is acceptable. I am in close communication with the law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight. "

Governor Rick Scott also tweeted, saying that he was in contact with the authorities and that he "will remain in constant communication".

Authorities have asked anyone with information about shots to contact the police department.

Associated Press contributed to this report.