The man who shot three people at Florida State University before being killed by police Thursday was a lawyer who graduated from the school, and he believed he was being targeted by the government.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shooter was Myron May, 31, who graduated from Florida State before attending Texas Tech University's law school. May had graduated in 2005 from FSU. He was practicing law in Texas and New Mexico before he returned to the Tallahassee area about three weeks ago.

May was fatally shot early Thursday after he shot three people at the Florida State library. Two were hospitalized, one critical and one in fair condition. Police said the third victim was grazed, treated at the scene and released.

Investigators said a preliminary look at a journal May kept showed he believed he was being targeted by the government, and he wanted to bring attention to this. They did not release more details, calling it a preliminary investigation.They described May as a "person in crisis."

Abigail Taunton told the Associated Press that May had recently been staying at a guest house she owns in a rural area in the Florida Panhandle. She said police interviewed her husband, David, after the shooting.

Leon County Sheriff's Office said they had no prior criminal encounters with May. FSU police said they only had two encounters — in 2002 on suspicious of marijuana possession, and in 2003 when he was the victim of vehicle burglary.

Adner Marcelin said he met May when they were both in law school. He looked up to May as a mentor and says the person he knew wanted to help people.

"He would check on me to find out how I was doing in law school. He shared notes with me and really was the encouraging person that we knew him to be. The smart and successful person," he said. "He lent a helping hand and we're just saddened and shocked to see what was going on today."

Investigators said May entered the library and never ventured past the entrance, so he never went through any of the library's security measures. He had a .380 semi-automatic handgun with additional ammunition in his pockets. After shooting three people — two students and a school employee — he left and was confronted by FSU police.

They said May refused to surrender and he was taken down. One person was shot inside the library, and two people were shot outside of the library, police said.

One of the victims has been identified as Nathan Scott, who is listed to be in good condition, according to an update from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Hospital officials said Nathan Scott was shot in the leg and continues to recover at the hospital.

Police are still trying to determine if May shot at the officers. The five officers involved in the shooting have been placed in administrative duty.

Gov. Rick Scott and John Thrasher, the president of Florida State University, spoke about the shooting around 11 a.m. following a briefing on the Florida State campus.

"I want to encourage everyone to take time and process the tragedy that occurred here last night," Scott said.

Thrasher, who recently was named FSU's president, added: "When something like this happens ... we all reach out to grab hold of each other, and that's what we're doing right now. We know that this Seminole family will come together."

Additionally, Thrasher said the university will move forward with events throughout the rest of the week and weekend.

All buildings will reopen Friday morning, with a greater police presence to make students feel safer.

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May sent packages to friends

Myron May’s friends said he messaged them earlier this week, asking for addresses and telling them packages would arrive in the mail on Friday.

But none of them know what's in the packages, according to one of those friends.

Joe Paul went to FSU with May. He now lives in Atlanta. He described May as a calm, mild-mannered person who was friendly. Paul's one of the eight friends expecting a package from him.

“It clicked. I said, ‘Wait a minute, he sent a message to us all about a letter he was going to be sending us, or a package, to all of us to arrive Friday.’ This is all connected,” Paul said.

Paul says none of them have any clue what May sent him. But have been told to contact police as soon as they arrive.

“People were a little afraid. Why did he choose us, that’s a lingering question. Why us?” Paul said.