A tragic shooting at Florida State University (FSU) left two people dead and six others injured, prompting a swift lockdown of the campus.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and son of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was shot by law enforcement, hospitalized, and taken into custody.
The incident began shortly before noon near the FSU Student Union, when the university issued an active shooter alert, urging students to shelter in place.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as students fled the area or hid, with some reporting hearing multiple gunshots.
McKenzie Heeter, a junior at FSU, told MSNBC she saw a man in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts shoot a woman after retrieving a pistol from a car, prompting her to run for safety.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed during a 4:30 p.m. press conference that Ikner, a political science major, used a handgun belonging to his mother, Deputy Jessica Ikner, a veteran of the sheriff’s office for over 18 years.
A shotgun was also recovered at the scene, though it’s unclear if it was used.
Sheriff McNeil noted that Phoenix Ikner’s involvement with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and his mother’s role meant he was “deeply embedded” in the law enforcement community, making his access to firearms unsurprising.
The two fatalities were not FSU students, according to FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower, though their identities have not been released.
Five of the six injured victims suffered gunshot wounds and were hospitalized, with their conditions undisclosed.
Ikner, injured during the police response, invoked his right to remain silent, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Authorities believe he acted alone, and the motive remains under investigation.
FSU President Richard McCullough called the event a “tragic day” for the university, expressing heartbreak over the violence.
The campus lockdown was lifted by 3:18 p.m. after the threat was neutralized, but the Student Union and several other buildings remained closed as an active crime scene. Classes and events, including athletics, were canceled through Sunday, April 20.
The shooting drew reactions from state and national figures. Governor Ron DeSantis and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody expressed support for the FSU community, with DeSantis noting on X that state law enforcement was actively responding.
President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, called the incident “horrible.” Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, highlighted that some Parkland survivors now at FSU endured a second school shooting.
Ikner’s background adds complexity to the case.
A Tallahassee native and registered Republican since 2022, he was quoted in a January 2025 FSU News article commenting on anti-Trump protests, suggesting they were futile unless they escalated to revolt, which he doubted anyone wanted.
This statement has sparked speculation about his mindset, though no clear motive has been established.
The FBI assisted at the scene, and the FSU Police Department is leading the investigation, supported by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Tallahassee Police Department.
Sheriff McNeil praised Deputy Jessica Ikner’s “exceptional service” to the community, emphasizing the tragedy’s personal toll on the sheriff’s office.
As the investigation continues, the FSU community grapples with the aftermath of the violence, with students like Joshua Sirmans, who was escorted from the library during the lockdown, recounting the fear and disruption caused by the shooting.
The incident has reignited discussions about campus safety and gun access, particularly given the suspect’s familial ties to law enforcement.
