A joyful homecoming Saturday at Florida A&M University ended in panic when shots rang out near the school's football stadium in Tallahassee. Twelve people were hurt. Six of them are children and the youngest is just 11 years old.

Police say 11 of the victims were struck by gunfire. The twelfth person was injured while running away from the shooting. Officials described the grandmother of one of the young victims as among those hurt in the rush to escape.

The gunfire broke out a little before 8 p.m. Eastern at the corner of Perry Street and Manatee Street. That intersection sits right beside Bragg Memorial Stadium, where the Rattlers had just hosted Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the historically Black university's annual homecoming game.

What police know so far

Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell spoke to reporters shortly after midnight. He said three of the victims were seriously wounded and one of those is in critical condition. The other eight were listed as stable. One of the victims is believed to be a FAMU student.

Revell said early evidence points to a fight that broke out just before the shooting. He called it an isolated incident involving two or three people and said investigators believe a single gunman opened fire. As of early Sunday no one had been arrested and police had not named a person of interest.

"I stand before you devastated," the chief said. He added that no family should have to go through this kind of heartbreak.

Officers carried the wounded

About two dozen officers were already nearby because the whole department was working the busy homecoming weekend. Revell praised officers who ran straight toward the gunfire without knowing how many shooters there were or how many people were hurt. Some picked up victims and carried them in their arms because the crowd was too thick for vehicles to get through.

FAMU warned people to stay away from the area or shelter in place while police worked the scene. The university said the shooting happened near campus but stressed that campus itself was safe. Florida State University, about a mile away, sent an emergency alert urging students and staff to stay indoors for the night. It said no one from its community appeared to be involved.

How to help the investigation

Detectives are asking anyone who saw what happened or captured video to come forward. Tips can go to the Tallahassee Police Department at 850-891-4200 or to Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS where callers can stay anonymous.

For many Rattlers the weekend is the biggest celebration of the year. Alumni were still in town Sunday as the community waited for word on the injured children.