Two people were killed and six others injured in a shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, on Thursday, April 17. The shooting began around 11:50 a.m. near the campus student union, triggering a lockdown across the university.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, authorities identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at the school. Ikner was taken to an area hospital after being neutralized by authorities. Police confirmed that Ikner is the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy, Jessica Ikner, who has served the department for over 18 years.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil commented during a press conference that her contributions to the community had been outstanding. However, he noted that her son had gained access to one of her firearms, which was later discovered at the scene.
According to authorities, neither of the two people killed were FSU students. The six injured individuals were taken to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, with at least one in critical condition. Officials emphasized that the area is still considered an active crime scene, though they believe the suspect acted alone.
“There is no further threat to our community at this point,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.
Students gathered Thursday evening to hold a vigil for those injured and killed during the attack. Dozens of flower bouquets were placed at the scene, along with candles and heart-shaped balloons, as students knelt in remembrance while the investigation continued behind yellow police tape.
FSU student William Schatz was in the library preparing for a presentation with fellow students when the shooting occurred. Schatz told reporters that when he saw people running, his instinct was to run with them. He credited first responders for quickly taking control of the situation.
Fellow student Christopher Malave was in the student union when the shooting began. He said he was grateful to have reached home safely and had been trying to collect his thoughts in the hours following the incident.
Cole Summers, another FSU student who was getting food at Panera in the student union, described hearing a group of girls mention something about a gun right before he heard the shots. Summers said he immediately started running and heard more shots coming from the entrance of the union as he fled.
Sophomore Ben Veytsman had just finished an appointment on campus when he heard the gunfire. Veytsman described walking near the Thagard Building when he noticed someone running and warning others about a shooting. He took shelter in a staff lounge before being escorted to safety.
Veytsman told reporters the experience felt surreal, comparing it to enacting a school shooter drill rather than an actual emergency.
According to sources familiar with Ikner, he had previously attended a political discourse club at Tallahassee State College before transferring to FSU. Ikner was known for expressing extreme political views that made other club members uncomfortable, eventually leading to his removal from the group.
Ikner was also reportedly quoted in an FSU student newspaper article about anti-Trump protests in January, ahead of President Trump’s inauguration. The investigation into Ikner’s background and possible motives continues, with authorities noting that he invoked his right not to speak to investigators.
The FBI quickly dispatched agents from its nearby Tallahassee field office to the scene. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Tampa office also confirmed its assistance in the investigation. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed the bureau’s presence at FSU, stating he was receiving updates about the situation while en route to Washington, D.C.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his support on social media, writing, “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote that the FBI was on the scene and in communication with agents on the ground.
FSU canceled all classes through Friday and suspended athletic events in Tallahassee through the weekend. FSU President Richard McCullough issued a statement calling the shooting a “tragic and senseless act of violence.”
The FSU Tallahassee campus spans 485.7 acres with 403 buildings. The university serves more than 44,300 students and employs over 16,000 people, according to the school’s website.
