Ex-Florida State star football player among two killed in shootout outside event venue

A former Florida State University football player was shot and killed on Sunday morning in Hollywood, Florida.

A tragic incident in Hollywood, Florida, early Sunday morning claimed the lives of two individuals, including a former Florida State University football player who was part of the school’s national championship team.

The shooting occurred outside Jaycee Hall, located at 2930 Hollywood Blvd., at approximately 1:30 a.m. when police responded to a gunfire alert.

Officers found four victims in the parking lot. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining three were rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital. A second victim later succumbed to injuries, with another recovering outside the ICU and one still in critical condition as of Monday evening, according to the Hollywood Police Department.

Family and social media posts identified the deceased as Octavious Jackson and Taron Nicks, both graduates of Miami Carol City Senior High School’s Class of 1998. Jackson, a standout defensive lineman in high school, played a pivotal role in securing two state championships for Carol City. A 1997 Miami Herald article described him as “one of the state’s most highly recruited players.”

Jackson continued his football career at Florida State University, joining the team in 1998 and contributing to the Seminoles’ victory in the 1999 BCS National Championship Game, where they defeated Virginia Tech 46-29 under Coach Bobby Bowden. The team was later honored at the White House by President Bill Clinton, who praised their hard-fought victory as proof they were “truly the best team in the country.”