Tragedy at Florida State: 2 Dead, Sheriff’s Deputy’s Son in Custody After Campus Shooting.
On April 17, 2025, Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee was rocked by a mass shooting that left two people dead and six others injured, plunging the campus into grief and fear. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and stepson of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, was shot by responding officers and taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries. The attack, which unfolded near the bustling Student Union around 11:50 a.m., involved a handgun—once a service weapon of Ikner’s stepmother, Jessica Ikner—and possibly a shotgun, though its use remains unconfirmed. FSU President Richard McCullough called it a “tragic and senseless act,” canceling classes through Friday and all athletic events through Sunday as the community mourns.
The shooting began outside the Student Union, a vibrant hub where students were eating, studying, and socializing. Eyewitnesses described chaos as gunshots rang out, with some hearing up to 30 shots. One student saw Ikner, dressed in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, exit an orange Hummer and open fire with a rifle, though police confirmed a handgun was the primary weapon. Students fled in panic, barricading themselves in classrooms or hiding in the Union’s bowling alley. Six victims were rushed to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, all now in fair condition, while the two deceased, neither FSU students, have not been publicly identified. A maintenance worker was among those shot, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
Ikner’s ties to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office deepened the tragedy’s impact. His stepmother, a deputy for over 18 years and a school resource officer, had purchased the handgun as personal property after it was replaced as her service weapon. Sheriff Walt McNeil noted Ikner’s long involvement in the office’s Youth Advisory Council and training programs, saying it was “not surprising” he had access to weapons. Court records reveal Ikner’s complex background, including a custody dispute between his biological parents that spanned Florida and Norway, with allegations of developmental and mental health issues by age 11. McNeil called the event a “heinous crime,” vowing to prosecute Ikner to the fullest and send a message against such violence.
The motive remains unclear, but troubling details have emerged. A former classmate from Tallahassee State College, where Ikner studied before transferring to FSU, said he was expelled from a political club for espousing white supremacist and far-right views, described as “Nazi-like” rhetoric. Ikner, who invoked his right to remain silent, was shot by police after refusing to comply with commands, though he did not fire at officers. The response from FSU police, Tallahassee Police Department, and federal agencies like the FBI was swift, neutralizing the threat within minutes. The FBI is now collecting photos and videos from witnesses to aid what it calls a “very active investigation.”
The shooting has reignited debates over gun violence, particularly on college campuses. FSU, which faced a shooting in 2014 that injured three, is grappling with its second such tragedy in 11 years. President Donald Trump, briefed on the incident, called it a “shame” but reiterated his support for Second Amendment rights, stating, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.” Gun reform advocate Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter died in the 2018 Parkland shooting, noted that some Parkland survivors at FSU endured their second school shooting. The Gun Violence Archive reports 80 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2025, underscoring the persistent crisis.
For the FSU community, the focus is on healing. Students like Ava Arenado, who fled her classroom, and Blake Leonard, who heard gunfire 400 feet away, shared stories of terror and survival. A makeshift memorial outside the Student Union grew as students gathered to mourn. Sheriff McNeil expressed solidarity, saying, “We are all Seminoles today.” The investigation continues, with police processing multiple crime scenes and interviewing hundreds of witnesses. As Tallahassee unites in grief, the tragedy raises urgent questions about gun access, mental health, and campus safety, with answers that may shape FSU’s path forward.
As the nation reflects on yet another mass shooting, FSU stands as a somber reminder of the toll of gun violence. The loss of two lives and the trauma inflicted on a vibrant campus community demand accountability and action. Whether this tragedy spurs change or fades into the cycle of grief depends on the response from leaders, lawmakers, and society. For now, Tallahassee mourns, holding tight to its Seminole spirit amidst a wound that will take time to heal.
