The man who shot and killed two people and injured several others at Florida State University used a gun he had taken from his mother. He has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Deputy Jessica Ikner from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say he got hold of one of his mother’s guns, and that weapon was found at the scene. The shooting happened on Thursday afternoon at the university’s campus in Tallahassee.
Before the attack, Ikner posted a disturbing message on social media, quoting a Bible verse from Jeremiah about destruction and judgment. He also recently mocked college students who were protesting the results of the 2024 presidential election.
In an interview for his school magazine, where he was listed as a political science major, Ikner made fun of people protesting, saying, “These people are usually pretty entertaining, but not for good reasons.” He also said it was too late to change anything about the 2024 election, since Trump was going to be sworn in on January 20, and unless people started a full revolt—which he didn’t think anyone wanted—there wasn’t much that could be done.
At a press conference on Thursday, Leon County Sheriff McNeil said Ikner had been involved in youth programs with the sheriff’s department and was well connected to the agency. He was described as part of the sheriff’s office “family.”
Tallahassee’s police chief, Lawrence Revell, said the gun used in the shooting had once been used by Ikner’s mother while on duty, but it had become her personal weapon by the time of the incident, which is allowed under department rules.
Authorities said Ikner was injured in the incident and is currently in the hospital. The shooting resulted in two deaths and six injuries.
As panic spread, disturbing photos and videos were posted online, including one showing a person being carried by paramedics. A witness told WFTV they heard what sounded like automatic gunfire, while another said they saw a young man with a gun leaving the student union building.
After the shooting began, students ran for safety, leaving behind belongings like food, blankets, and bags on a lawn, which were shown in videos posted online.
Students shared frightening videos from inside a classroom, showing scared classmates hiding under desks. They heard someone banging on the door and yelling “open up,” but everyone stayed quiet and still out of fear.
Photos showed worried students and staff trying to contact their families during the evacuation. Florida State University later announced that all classes and activities were canceled for the rest of the day.
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said it was treating several people and was fully ready to give the best care possible. A hospital spokesperson said all six patients were seriously hurt, and one was in critical condition.
Police found a gray car on campus with a gun inside that may be linked to the shooting. They also took several weapons, including a shotgun and a pistol. The suspect was arrested while still carrying a weapon.
Will Schatz, an FSU senior, told a newspaper he was in Strozier Library when he saw students suddenly running out. “I think I saw a police officer chasing someone and yelling,” he said. “Then I heard seven or eight gunshots. I’m not sure if the shooter was firing or if the police shot him.”
This isn’t the first time a shooting happened on the FSU campus. In November 2014, a former student shot two students and a staff member in the Strozier Library before police killed him.
On Thursday afternoon, officials said that police were still going room to room on the main campus to make sure everything was safe, and that the process could take several hours.
Just before a press conference, authorities said students would be allowed to return to their dorms once the threat had been handled.
FSU warned that the Student Union and the nearby area were still an active crime scene, so people should stay away. Students were told not to go back to the Student Union to get their belongings yet.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office sent a helicopter to help check the campus, and the Tallahassee Fire Department also got involved. Nearby schools were put on lockdown as a safety measure.
The FBI announced it would be joining the investigation later that day.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released a statement a couple of hours after the incident, saying his thoughts were with the FSU community. President Trump also said he had been fully briefed on the situation.
FSU, located in Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, is a public university with around 45,000 students. Famous former students include Jim Morrison from The Doors and actor Burt Reynolds.