Thrasher, FSU trustees commit $30,000 for yoga shooting hero Joshua Quick's college expenses

Florida State University President John Thrasher and the board of trustees Friday committed $30,000 of their personal money to cover law school costs for Joshua Quick.

Quick, a second-year law student at FSU, has been hailed as a hero for his efforts in attacking the shooter who opened fire Nov. 2 at the Hot Yoga studio in Tallahassee.

Two people, Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, an internist and medical director for Capital Health Plan, and Maura Binkley, a 21-year-old student majoring in German and English at FSU, were killed in the shooting. 

Five other people were wounded.

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Quick, in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said after shooter Scott Beierle fired shots inside the Midtown studio, he confronted him with a vacuum cleaner, hitting him over the head when the shooter’s weapon stopped firing.

Quick was pistol-whipped and bloodied, but went after Beirle again, hitting him with a broom. The exchange allowed others to escape the studio.

Quick thinking:

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Beirle was found dead inside from a self-inflicted gunshot.

During Friday’s’ meeting, Thrasher praised the efforts of Quick, who has downplayed the “hero” label describing him since the incident.

On Wednesday, Mayor Andrew Gillum presented Quick with a Key to the City on behalf of a grateful community.

Thrasher told trustees he didn’t have a key to offer, but instead, wanted to make sure Quick’s law school expenses are covered.

“We are going to start an effort to take care of the rest of his time at our law school,” Thrasher said after bringing Quick to the front of the room.

“I want you to know how much gratitude we have for what you did,” Thrasher said to Quick.

Quick, standing before trustees at the Turnbull Conference Center, thanked Thrasher in brief remarks before leaving the room.

“I want to offer my gratitude to everybody,” he said. “Thank you all for the recognition I don’t feel I deserve.”

Following a break, board chairman Ed Burr passed out pledge cards to members to indicate their support. Thrasher said he was hoping to raise $35,000 to $45,000 to cover Quick’s tuition and expenses.

“I’m confident we will rally the necessary resources to do the right thing for what he did for the people in that room,” Thrasher later said.

Thrasher said the contributions would go through the FSU Foundation earmarked for the FSU College of Law general scholarship fund.

By the end of the meeting, Burr announced trustees had responded with $30,000.

Burr said it was clear trustees were moved by the tragedy and Quick’s efforts.

“This young man saved lives in a moment of stress," Burr said. "He responded heroically.

“That’s a pretty impressive number for a smaller board to come up with in a few hours.”

Thrasher said he and his wife, Jean, and members of his leadership team plan to attend a celebration of life for Binkley at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, in Atlanta.

More:The victims of the Hot Yoga Tallahassee shooting, Sunday vigils, the GoFundMe page

Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.

To contribute:

Checks can be made to “The FSU Foundation” and mailed to The FSU Foundation, 323 W. College Ave., Tallahassee, Fl 32301-9969, or, go online at http://foundation.fsu.edu. Checks should be earmarked: FSU College of Law General Scholarship Fund.