A mass shooting incident broke out around lunchtime at Florida State University on Thursday, as per AP News. Investigators have since issues updates of the aftermath, saying that the gunman killed two people, who were not students, and at least six others were injured in Tallahassee.
What we know about the Florida State University shooting gunman
The 20-year-old US shooting suspect was identified as the son of a sheriff’s deputy. Officer shot him after quickly arriving at the scene as he opened fire, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Police have also released the shooter’s name: Phoenix Ikner, who is believed to a Florida State University student. He was eventually hospitalised. A motive for the campus shooting has yet to be revealed.
The handgun used in the mass shooting incident used to be the young shooter’s mother’s service weapon. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said that the gunman’s mother had been a model employee who had been associated with the sheriff’s office for more than 18 years.
As the harrowing development unravelled just outside the student union, students took cover in a bowling alley and freight elevator inside the building.
The Florida State University shooter was a student
According to NBC News, a junior at the university claimed to have seen the gunman in the campus. Describing him as a “normal college dude” wearing an orange T-shirt and khaki short, she initially thought the young man had brought out a BB gun.
“I was leaving the union with my food. There’s a road next to it and I was walking and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer, and he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction. There were a couple other kids near me,” she said. “I think he was shooting and he missed. So he goes back into his car and grabs a pistol, then he turns and shoots the lady in front of him. That’s when I just started running.”
“When he turned back around with the pistol, I saw him shoot the lady like right in front of him. She was probably like 5 feet in front of him with the pistol,” she added. “”It was just me and like three other people that noticed at first, but we were walking in the opposite direction away from the union, so we started running. I just told everybody that I could see, stay away from campus.”
The FSU junior recalled hearing about 15 rounds being fired for about 20 to 30 seconds. She reportedly alerted the police of the university shooting at 11:57 am.
Donald Trump speaks out
US President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office, “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place.” Standing firm on his stance against any new gun legislation, he added, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.”
As a result of the Florida shooting, FSU cancelled classes for the rest of the week and cancelled home athletic events through Sunday. “Essential employees should check with their supervisors for further reporting instructions,” the university said.
All Florida State athletics home events through Sunday, April 20, have been canceled.
— FSU Seminoles (@Seminoles) April 17, 2025
Further updates on events scheduled for next week will be communicated when available.
