A deadly shooting on the campus of Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on Thursday has left two people dead and six others injured, authorities confirmed.
The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU, was apprehended after being shot by police and remains hospitalized. According to law enforcement officials, Ikner is the stepson of a long-serving Leon County sheriff’s deputy and had previously been involved in several youth advisory and training programs within the Sheriff’s Office. The suspect invoked his right to remain silent following his arrest.
The incident began shortly before noon when police received reports of gunfire near the FSU student union.
Witnesses reported hearing approximately 30 shots. Students and faculty were urged to seek shelter as multiple law enforcement agencies swarmed the campus.
Investigators said the alleged gunman used a personal handgun once assigned to his stepmother during her time as a sheriff’s deputy, as well as a shotgun, both recovered at the scene. Sheriff Walter McNeil confirmed that the weapon had been legally transferred to her after her service.“It’s a tragedy all around,” McNeil said during a press briefing. “Phoenix Ikner was not just a student; he was a familiar face within our department’s youth programs.
Unfortunately, he also had access to a weapon he should never have had.”Authorities revealed that Ikner’s family had been embroiled in a prolonged custody battle from 2007 until 2023. The Sheriff’s Office said the deputy, Ikner’s stepmother, has served the community with distinction for over 18 years.
The identities of the two deceased victims, who were not FSU students, have not been released pending family notification. The six injured individuals were transported to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Hospital.
As of Friday morning, two are expected to be discharged, three are in good condition, and one remains in fair condition. Students on campus described the terror and confusion as events unfolded.“One of my classmates got an alert, and our teacher immediately started barricading the door,” said FSU student Ava Arenado. “Another student said she’d rather go home, and we all just ran for our cars.”
Blake Leonard, another student, said he was 400 feet from the student union when he heard shots. “At first, I thought it was construction. Then I saw people running and realized what was happening. That’s when I ran too.”The FBI and ATF are assisting local authorities with the ongoing investigation. As of 3:15 p.m. Thursday, the campus was declared secure, although several buildings remain active crime scenes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended his condolences on social media: “Our prayers are with our FSU family.”At the federal level, President Trump was briefed on the incident and made a brief statement: “It’s a shame. A horrible thing. These things are terrible. But the gun doesn’t do the shooting—the people do.”
When asked whether gun laws would be revisited, the president reiterated his support for the Second Amendment but said he would “take a look.”. All classes and university events have been canceled through Friday, with sports activities suspended through Sunday.
This marks the second major shooting incident at FSU in recent memory. In 2014, a former student opened fire in the university library, injuring three before being killed by police.
The Gun Violence Archive reports that Thursday’s shooting is the 80th mass shooting in the United States in 2025 averaging over five such incidents per week. Last year, 502 mass shootings were recorded across the country.
As the investigation unfolds, the FSU community mourns, heals, and searches for answers in the aftermath of yet another senseless act of violence on a college campus.
