Tragedy at FSU: Two dead, six injured in campus shooting

Department of Research, Studies and International News 18-04-2025

A shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on Thursday left two people dead and six others wounded, according to law enforcement. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a current FSU student and son of a long-serving Leon County sheriff’s deputy, is currently hospitalized and in custody.

The incident unfolded around midday near the university’s student union, prompting chaos as students and staff scrambled for cover. Some sought refuge in a bowling alley and others in an elevator inside the building. None of the victims were FSU students or law enforcement personnel, authorities confirmed.

Sheriff Walt McNeil stated that the suspect had participated in various training programs at the sheriff’s office and had access to firearms, one of which, a handgun, was found at the scene. Ikner’s mother, a deputy with 18 years of service, reportedly owned the weapon. “This tragedy strikes close to home,” McNeil remarked during a press briefing. “It’s heartbreaking from both a professional and personal perspective.”

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating six individuals injured in the incident, one of whom was in critical condition.

The university issued an immediate lockdown notice as emergency services flooded the area. Videos on social media showed students being escorted away, while others waited nearby in distress, seeking updates. The Tallahassee Police Department later confirmed the area was secured, though the student union remained an active crime scene.

Eyewitness accounts describe moments of terror. Ryan Cedergren, a communications student, said he and dozens of others hid in the bowling alley when the chaos erupted. “It felt like pure survival,” he recalled.

President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident during a meeting at the White House, calling it “horrific.” Gun safety advocate Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, expressed sorrow and frustration over the recurring pattern of gun violence. “America is broken,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, FSU’s 42,000 students were left reeling. Junior student Joshua Sirmans described hearing alarms in the main library before being evacuated at gunpoint. Law enforcement instructed students to shelter in place and remain alert.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing with support from federal authorities, including the FBI and Department of Justice.