Deadly Shooting at FSU: 2 Killed, 6 Wounded—Suspect Arrested

Authorities said that the son of a sheriff’s deputy in Tallahassee opened fire on Thursday near the Student Union, killing two and injuring another six people.

Police said that the suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner (a student at FSU), was hospitalized after being shot by responding officers. Multiple law enforcement officials said that he was taken into custody after suffering non-life-threatening wounds.

Ikner, according to Sheriff Walter McNeil, is the stepson of a Leon County deputy sheriff. The sheriff stated that he had access to his stepmother’s weapon, which was found on the scene. Police said that it appeared Ikner was carrying a handgun as well as a shotgun.

Court documents show that Jessica Ikner is not the mother of the suspect, as authorities claimed.

McNeil stated that the suspect’s stepmother had been a deputy at the department for over 18 years. “Her service to this community was exceptional,” McNeil added.

McNeil stated that the suspect was a “longstanding member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Advisory Council.

The sheriff stated that “it was not surprising to us that he had weapons.”

Police have confirmed that the campus has been secured.

The police have not yet identified the two victims, but they did say that neither of them was a student.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare has received six patients in fair condition.

Richard McCullough called the incident a “tragic, senseless act at the center of our campus.”

“Right now, we are focusing on the people. This includes the victims and their family members. Students, faculty, and staff were all nearby and are now trying to make sense of what happened. It means everyone on our campus who feels shaken or overwhelmed,” said the president.

According to the most recent update by FSU Alerts, the families of those killed in the shooting were contacted. The university’s FSU Alerts has updated its website to inform those who were separated from their possessions during the shooting that they will be able to retrieve them later.

Paula Maldonado, a sophomore, said that she was sitting in class next to the Student Union and heard what sounded as if someone was yelling.

She said that the alarm went off immediately after. “Everyone in the class turned out the lights and put their desks up to block the door. They then hid at the front of the room.”

Maldonado stated, “We were silent and some whispered.” “Some were also weeping and helping eachother.” “A student next to you told me to place my backpack in front to protect myself.”

“A policeman came in, and I thought he was the shooter. It was very frightening.” Maldonado said that after a few minutes, another officer came in and instructed us to leave the room with our hands raised.

Student Daniella Streety told us that she was standing in her building, across from the Student Union, when the alert sirens began to blare. People who were outside then ran inside.

She said that students fled the Student Union when law enforcement officers flooded the scene.

Fred Guttenberg’s daughter, Jaime, 14, was killed during the Parkland High School shooting in South Florida in 2018. Some of Jaime’s classmates are now attending FSU.

Guttenberg wrote, “Incredibly, some of them had just been a part in their second school shooting, and some were today at the student union,” on social media. Guttenberg is now a supporter of gun reform. As a father, my only desire after the Parkland school shooting was that our children would be safe. Unfortunately, the fact that so many people refuse to take the necessary steps to reduce gun violence is why I’m not surprised at what happened today.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump was briefed about the shooting.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, said: “My heart breaks for students, their parents, and faculty members at Florida State University. Violence has no place in American culture. Our entire nation prays for the victims and families.”

FSU announced that classes will be canceled until Friday.