FSU Shooting Suspect ID’d as 20-Year-Old Son of Sheriff’s Deputy

On April 17, 2025, a tragic mass shooting unfolded at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to six others. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a longtime deputy sheriff from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred near the university’s student union building around 11:50 a.m. Witnesses reported that Ikner arrived on campus in an orange Hummer and began firing a rifle, followed by a handgun, into a crowd of students. The shooting prompted a swift response from campus police, who apprehended Ikner after he was shot during the confrontation. He is currently hospitalized in fair condition.

Authorities have confirmed that Ikner used a handgun belonging to his mother, a deputy with over 18 years of service. Additional weapons, including a shotgun found in the student union and another firearm in his vehicle, were also recovered.

The victims who lost their lives were not students at FSU, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation. In response to the tragedy, FSU canceled all classes for the remainder of the week.

This incident marks the second major shooting at FSU in the past decade, recalling a 2014 shooting at the university’s main library. The community mourns the loss and seeks answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence.