Two Killed, Several Injured in Florida University Shooting Linked to Deputy’s Son
A tragic shooting at Florida State University has left two people dead and five others injured, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The alleged shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is reported to be the son of a long-serving local deputy sheriff and a current student at the university.
Law enforcement officials stated that Ikner used one of his mother’s former service weapons during the attack. The incident unfolded around midday, prompting an immediate lockdown of the campus as shots rang out and students were ordered to shelter in place.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil identified Ikner and expressed sorrow over the involvement of someone so closely connected to the department. He explained that the suspect had access to weapons due to his participation in law enforcement training programs.
Ikner was shot by responding officers and taken to a hospital. Authorities have not released details about his condition.
Eyewitness videos shared with CNN appeared to capture the shooter walking across campus grounds and firing at fleeing individuals. Students described scenes of confusion and panic as gunfire erupted near the student union.
“Everyone just bolted out of the building,” a witness named Wayne told local media. “Within a minute, we heard about 8 to 10 shots.” He described seeing someone wounded in the abdomen, adding that the entire scene felt “surreal.”
Police confirmed that the two victims who lost their lives were not students, but did not disclose further information. The university, which has more than 40,000 students, canceled all classes and advised non-resident students to vacate the campus.
Florida State University President Richard McCullough expressed deep sorrow over the events. “Today is a deeply tragic day for our university. We are heartbroken by the violence on our campus,” he said.
One student, Sam Swartz, recalled being in the basement of the student union when the shooting began. “People panicked,” he said, describing how he and others barricaded a hallway with trash cans and plywood. “I remembered from training—you do anything you can to slow them down,” he said, referring to advice for surviving active shooter situations.
Video shared on social platforms showed students evacuating with their hands raised, following police instructions.
Mass shootings remain a recurring crisis in the United States, where gun ownership is protected under the Constitution. Despite growing public support for tighter gun laws, measures like restricting high-capacity magazines and banning military-style firearms have faced political resistance.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the shooting, calling it “a shame, a horrible thing,” while reaffirming his support for gun rights. “The Second Amendment protects our freedoms. Guns aren’t the problem—people are,” he said.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 81 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, defined as incidents where four or more individuals are shot.
