A deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday has left two people dead and four others injured, according to local authorities. The gunman, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. He was shot by police and taken into custody after the incident.
The attack happened just before noon near the student union building on FSU’s Tallahassee campus, sending panic through the university community.
Suspect Had Access to Mother’s Firearm
Authorities said the suspect had access to a handgun once used by his mother, a sheriff’s deputy. She had legally purchased it from the department, and it became her personal weapon.
“Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons that was found at the scene,” said Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil.
Police also believe the shooter may have brought a shotgun to campus, but it’s still unclear whether it was used during the attack.
Gunman Believed to Be an FSU Student
According to Jason Trumbower, Chief of the FSU Police Department, the suspect was believed to be a student at the university. However, the two victims who died were not students.
The names of the injured have not yet been released, but all four, along with the suspect, were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
Shooting Timeline and Witness Accounts
The shooting began around 11:50 a.m., prompting police to instruct students and staff to shelter in place. With over 42,000 students at the main campus, the scene quickly became tense.
Student Max Jenkins, who was nearby, described the shooter firing four or five shots near the student union.
“He saw the maintenance guy who was waving everyone away… and shot that way,” Jenkins said.
“There’s a golf cart over here with a bullet hole in it.”
Another witness, Chris Pento, was visiting the campus with his children when shots rang out.
“It was surreal. People started running. My daughter got trampled,” he told WCTV.
Police Response and Arrest
The gunman refused to surrender, according to officers on the scene. As a result, he was shot by police, arrested, and taken to the hospital. Authorities confirmed he acted alone, and the motive is still unknown.
Not the First Shooting at FSU
This is the second major shooting on the FSU campus in the past 11 years. In 2014, a gunman opened fire in the university’s main library, injuring two students and an employee.
Mass shootings on college campuses have sadly become increasingly common in the U.S. In recent years:
- 2007, Virginia Tech: 32 killed, 23 injured
- 2023, Michigan State University: 3 students killed, 5 injured
- 2023, University of Nevada, Las Vegas: 3 faculty members killed