Florida State University is reeling in the aftermath of a mass shooting that left two people dead and six others injured on April 17th. The attack, which unfolded near the university’s Student Union, lasted only minutes but has left two dead and six others injured.
According to authorities, the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, arrived at an FSU parking garage at 11 a.m. and left just before 11:52 a.m. Within minutes, he opened fire on campus, walking through buildings and green spaces while discharging a handgun later identified as the former service weapon of sheriff’s deputy Jessica Ikner, his mother. The first shots rang out around 11:56 a.m., and 911 calls began flooding in moments later. By noon, Ikner was shot by campus police and taken into custody. Five of the victims were wounded by gunfire, and a sixth was injured while fleeing the scene. Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but family members have identified the deceased as Robert Morales, a university dining services worker, and Tiru Chabba, a vendor on campus.
Police have yet to determine a motive, but Ikner’s past has been scrutinized. Former classmates from Tallahassee State College described him as having extreme political views and a history of troubling rhetoric. He was reportedly known for defending Nazi symbols, making inflammatory comments about civil rights figures, and criticizing pro-Palestinian and Black Lives Matter activists. However, investigators have not confirmed any ideological link to the shooting, and more about his childhood and upbringing is also coming into focus. He faces first-degree murder charges when he is released from the hospital.
The quick response of the Florida State University Police Department (FSUPD) was credited with preventing further tragedy. Officers arrived on the scene within minutes, neutralizing the threat in just over two minutes. On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis awarded FSUPD officers the Governor’s Medal of Heroism. “I am immensely proud of the men and women of FSUPD,” said Chief Jason Trumbower. “This recognition is entirely about them.”
However, the incident marks the second mass shooting on FSU’s campus in recent memory. In 2014, a gunman opened fire inside Strozier Library, wounding three people before being killed by police. Dr. Shelby Blank, who treated victims in both attacks, called this month’s shooting “catastrophic,” noting the danger posed by the dense student population near the Student Union. “Given the number of students in that compressed area, the recipe for disaster is very scary,” Blank said.
Former President Donald Trump, when asked about the shooting, reiterated his support for the Second Amendment while acknowledging the pain caused by the violence. “These things are terrible,” he said. “But the gun doesn’t do the shooting. The people do.”
As the FSU community mourns, questions remain about what led Ikner to carry out the attack and how to prevent future violence on college campuses.
