The 2018 Tallahassee Yoga Studio Shooting: A Tragic Tale of Misogyny and Violence

The Day of the Shooting

On a seemingly ordinary evening, November 2, 2018, the serene ambiance of Hot Yoga Tallahassee was shattered by an act of unfathomable violence. Located at 1950 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee, Florida, this yoga studio became the scene of a mass shooting that left the community and the nation in shock.

At precisely 5:37 p.m., Scott Paul Beierle stormed into the studio, armed with a 9mm Glock 17 Gen 5 semi-automatic pistol. His target was clear: women. In a matter of moments, Beierle shot six women, killing two—Maura Binkley, a promising 21-year-old student from Florida State University, and Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, a respected 61-year-old doctor and faculty member at the same university. As chaos erupted, Beierle pistol-whipped a man attempting to subdue him before turning the gun on himself, ending his own life. In total, three people, including Beierle, lost their lives, while five others were injured, four by gunfire and one by the violent assault.

The Attack Unfolds

As Beierle unleashed his fury inside the studio, partygoers across the street witnessed the horror unfold. They described seeing people fleeing in terror, including a man in a bloodied white t-shirt who sought refuge in a nearby bar. This man later recounted how he bravely charged the shooter, only to be met with a brutal pistol-whipping. Survivors later confirmed his account, revealing that he had first wielded a vacuum cleaner and then a broomstick in a desperate attempt to fend off Beierle, buying crucial time for his fellow students to escape. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo praised the courage of the students who valiantly fought back in an effort to save themselves and others.

The entire ordeal lasted mere minutes, with Beierle firing 14 bullets, including the one that ended his life. The yoga studio occupied a plaza alongside various restaurants and businesses, and patrons dining below reported hearing the gunshots. The restaurant owner, in a state of urgency, moved through the dining area, asking if anyone present was a doctor.

The Victims

The aftermath of the shooting revealed a devastating toll. Maura Binkley, an FSU student set to graduate in 2019, was one of the two victims who lost their lives. Her bright future was tragically cut short. Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, the chief medical director for Capital Health Plan and a faculty member at FSU, was the other. Both women were remembered for their contributions to the community and their promising lives.

The Perpetrator

Scott Paul Beierle's rampage was fueled by a deep-seated hatred of women. Born on October 6, 1978, Beierle was a military veteran and a former teacher in the Anne Arundel County Public School System in Maryland, where he taught English and social studies at Meade High School. He was affiliated with conservative groups such as FSU College Republicans and We Are Conservatives. Despite his professional background, Beierle's career was marred by inappropriate behavior, including incidents that led to his dismissal, such as touching a female student inappropriately and asking if she was "ticklish."

Beierle's misogyny extended to his online presence, where he posted videos identifying with the involuntary celibate (incel) community and expressing frustration over sexual rejections from women. He sympathized with Elliot Rodger, the shooter behind the 2014 Isla Vista killings, and shared misogynistic songs on SoundCloud. His videos also contained rants against African-Americans, illegal immigration, and interracial relationships. One particularly inflammatory video was titled "Dangers of Diversity."

The Investigation

The FBI and Tallahassee Police Department concluded that Beierle's attack was premeditated and driven by his hatred of women. They noted that he had meticulously planned the shooting for months. The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism classified the attack as misogynist terrorism, underscoring its nature as an act of extremist violence motivated by male supremacy.

The Aftermath

In the wake of the tragedy, Florida State University held a vigil on November 4, honoring the victims. A series of tributes followed, with the Tallahassee chapter of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, of which Maura Binkley was a member, playing a central role. The community's outpouring of grief extended to social media, where families and friends of the deceased shared heartfelt tributes. On November 11, a candlelit vigil took place at Cascades Park, offering a moment of reflection and healing. The day after the shooting, a Hot Yoga Tallahassee instructor led a yoga class on Adams Street, symbolizing resilience and the community's commitment to healing.

In 2019, Maura Binkley's parents filed a lawsuit against the yoga studio and property owner, alleging negligence in providing adequate safety measures. In their daughter's memory, they established Maura's Voice Research Fund at the FSU College of Social Work. This fund supports research focused on hate crimes and the prevention of violence against women and girls, advocating for policy reforms and effective practices.

In 2022, the Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center released a detailed case study on the shooting, highlighting Beierle's profile as typical of misogynist extremism. The report painted a chilling picture of a man with a history of arrests for groping women, a penchant for violent songs about torturing women, and admiration for mass killers who targeted women.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Scott Paul Beierle

This tragic incident sheds light on the pervasive issue of misogynistic violence and the urgent need for society to address the underlying causes of such heinous acts.