A tragic shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee left two people dead and five others injured on Thursday. According to CNN, the incident unfolded near the university's student union when a 20-year-old man opened fire on students.
Police Confront and Neutralize the Suspect
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell confirmed that officers responded quickly to the scene. When they located the suspect, he refused to follow their commands. As a result, police shot him. Revell clarified that the shooter did not fire at the officers. The suspect was hospitalized following the encounter.
Shooter Identified as Son of Sheriff’s Deputy
Leon County Sheriff Walter A. McNeil revealed the identity of the suspect during a press briefing. He said, “The suspect is 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy.” He noted that Ikner had access to one of his mother's firearms.
Weapons Recovered from Multiple Locations
Law enforcement recovered several weapons linked to the attack. Officers found a handgun on Ikner at the scene. A shotgun was discovered inside the student union, and another firearm was retrieved from the suspect’s vehicle. Sheriff McNeil added, “Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.”
Investigators are working to determine how the shooter obtained the firearms and whether more weapons were involved. McNeil said, “We are continuing that investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to.”
FSU Cancels All Activities Amid Grief
FSU President Richard McCullough expressed deep sorrow over the violence. “We're absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today,” he stated. In response, the university cancelled all classes, events, and administrative operations through Friday. FSU also postponed all athletic events in Tallahassee scheduled for the weekend. Essential employees were asked to contact their supervisors for further instructions.
National Leaders Respond to the Incident
President Donald Trump commented on the shooting during a media interaction at the Oval Office. “I’ve been briefed on the Florida State University, Tallahassee, active shooting. It’s a shame. Horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place,” Trump said. He indicated that more comments would follow once more information became available.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed the incident. “The President has been briefed on the shooting at Florida State University, and the White House is actively monitoring the situation,” she said.