Candidates Outline Plans to Curb Tallahassee Gun Violence

P.J. Perez and Tom Derzypolski, running for City Commission Seat 3, presented differing approaches after a string of local shootings.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Violence

Candidates Outline Plans to Curb Tallahassee Gun Violence

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Do you feel the city is doing enough to keep your neighborhood safe?

Two candidates for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 outlined plans to reduce gun violence after the city recorded at least four more shootings since the Perry Street mass shooting. The Perry Street shooting, which wounded eleven people during FAMU's homecoming weekend, prompted renewed focus on public safety in the city.

Why it matters

The shootings have intensified scrutiny of how Tallahassee responds to gun violence, a central issue for voters in the upcoming City Commission race. The candidates' proposals offer contrasting views on whether crime is best addressed through policing or through investment in young people and neighborhoods.

Eleven people were shot in the Perry Street mass shooting, and at least four more shootings have been recorded in Tallahassee since then. No baseline comparison for typical local shooting levels was provided, and the connection between the separate incidents has not been established.

The players

P.J. Perez

Perez is a candidate for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 who has proposed after-school arts and trades programs and community policing as part of his approach to reducing gun violence.

Tom Derzypolski

Derzypolski is the other candidate for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 who outlined his own plan to address gun violence in the city.

The details

P.J. Perez said instability and a lack of investment can contribute to crime, and his plan includes after-school programs connecting students with the arts and trades, along with community policing in which law enforcement works with neighborhoods. A man was also shot multiple times at Magnolia Terrace Apartments days after the Perry Street shooting.

FAMU homecoming weekend: the Perry Street mass shooting occurred, wounding eleven people.
Days after the Perry Street shooting: a man was shot multiple times at Magnolia Terrace Apartments.
November 3, 2026: candidates outlined their plans to reduce gun violence.

Legal Context

The Perry Street mass shooting during FAMU homecoming weekend has become a reference point for Tallahassee's ongoing debate over whether policing or investment in youth programs better reduces gun violence. Candidates for City Commission Seat 3 are now positioning their proposals against that backdrop.

Residents in Tallahassee neighborhoods near recent shootings may see changes in patrols and safety measures as the city responds. Voters weighing the City Commission Seat 3 race can compare the two candidates' approaches to public safety before casting ballots.

The takeaway

Voters evaluating Tallahassee's gun violence debate can weigh whether policing, youth investment, or both are the priority for their neighborhoods. Following local reporting on incident counts can help track whether shootings are rising or falling over time.