FSA student 2 kills, 5 injures others.
Students and faculty were urged to remain sheltered in place as law enforcement secured the campus. Authorities emphasized staying indoors, avoiding windows, and waiting for official updates before moving or exiting buildings.
Tallahassee Tragedy: FSU Campus Shaken by Deadly Shooting Involving Deputy’s Son
Tallahassee, Florida — A tragic mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) has left two people dead and five others injured after a student, later identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, allegedly opened fire on campus. Authorities say Ikner is the son of a longtime deputy in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and used one of her former service weapons during the attack.
The terrifying incident unfolded around lunchtime on Thursday, sending the university into an emergency lockdown as the sounds of gunfire echoed across campus. Students were urgently instructed to shelter in place while law enforcement officers quickly responded to the scene.
Ikner, a current student at FSU, was reportedly familiar with law enforcement operations due to his participation in sheriff’s office training programs. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, speaking during a press briefing, confirmed that the suspect was indeed the son of an “exceptional” officer who has served with the department for 18 years.
“That firearm was recovered at the scene.” He also acknowledged that because Ikner was involved in department training initiatives, his access to firearms didn’t come as a surprise.
One student, who only identified himself as Wayne, shared his harrowing experience with local news station WCTV.
Wayne added that he saw at least one person who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the torso. “It all felt like a nightmare — first it was eerily quiet, then it turned into chaos within seconds.”
Cell phone footage shared by bystanders and later aired by CNN appeared to show a young man walking across a grassy area of the campus, firing a weapon at people as they fled. Police soon arrived and confronted the shooter, ultimately wounding him. Ikner was transported to a nearby hospital, though his current condition has not been disclosed.
Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day, and university counselors were made available to those affected by the traumatic event.
This incident adds to the growing number of mass shootings that have plagued the United States in recent years. Despite public outrage and continued debate over gun control, the right to bear arms remains deeply protected under the U.S. Constitution.
Gun safety advocates argue that more needs to be done to prevent access to firearms, especially in cases where individuals may be at risk of harming themselves or others. However, others maintain that the issue lies not in the guns themselves but in those who misuse them.
“It’s not the gun that does the shooting — it’s the person behind it,” one local resident remarked, echoing a common sentiment in the ongoing national conversation.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks firearm-related incidents in the U.S., there have already been over 80 mass shootings across the country this year alone.
As investigations continue, law enforcement is working to piece together what may have motivated Ikner’s actions and how he gained access to the firearm. Sheriff McNeil emphasized the need for compassion during this difficult time, especially for the family of the deputy involved.
“This is heartbreaking on many levels,” he said. “We’re dealing with a loss of life, the trauma inflicted on a campus community, and the personal grief of a law enforcement family.”
The FSU community now faces a long road to healing after a senseless act of violence shattered what should have been a normal day on campus. Counseling services, community vigils, and increased security measures are expected in the days to come as students, staff, and families begin to process the tragic events.