Florida State Campus Shooting Suspect Is Son of Sheriff’s Deputy … Used Her Gun, Police Believe
Published | Updated
1:35 PM PT — The Tallahassee Police Department said in a 4:30 PM ET news conference … two people are dead. They were not students. Police said a shooting suspect was detained. Five victims were hospitalized, with one in critical condition … the suspect was also being treated at a hospital.
Police said they have identified the shooting suspect … 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, who is the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy.
Police said the suspect’s mother is a deputy, who has been with the department for more than 18 years. That person appears to be Deputy Jessica Ikner, who is also a school resource officer.
Police said Phoenix Ikner, who’s “steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s family,” attended numerous department training programs, and was on the sheriff’s youth advisory council.
The suspect had access to one of the deputy’s weapons, which was recovered at the scene … police said it’s believed the gun is the deputy’s personal handgun. He also had a shotgun with him, police believe.
The suspect is not speaking to investigators, police said. Police said the suspect did not comply with commands, and he was shot at the scene. Police don’t believe he fired at officers.
The investigation is ongoing.
Several people were wounded in a school shooting on the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University Thursday around noon local time … and at least one person has been arrested.
The university sent out an alert about an active shooter on campus and advised students and the public to shelter in place as law enforcement responded to the situation. More than three hours later, at 3:20 PM ET, FSU posted on its alerts page …. “Law enforcement has neutralized the threat.”
An active shooter has been reported in the area of Student Union. Police are on scene or on the way. Continue to seek shelter and await further instructions. Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measur https://t.co/cBrbt0cLe6
— FSU Alert (@FSUAlert) April 17, 2025 @FSUAlert
The Tallahassee Democrat reports six people have been hospitalized, with at least one person in critical condition … and a man has been detained. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare confirmed the number of injured to the newspaper. No deaths have been confirmed by officials, the Democrat reports.
Surrounding schools were locked down during the response and the investigation.
Videos from the scene appeared to show the chaos on campus with uniformed cops running in the area with long guns. WCTV in Tallahassee reports students on campus at the time of the shooting heard about 15 to 20 gunshots.
A video posted by local reporter Forrest Saunders appears to show a shackled and injured person being loaded into an ambulance at the scene.
At 2:44 PM ET, the school posted a statement on its alert page — “Continue to shelter in place. Law enforcement is actively clearing rooms on the main campus. Law enforcement officers will use the safe word SEMINOLE to confirm it is safe to open the door. Continue to shelter in place until law enforcement contacts you.”
The Tallahassee Police Dept. said officials will hold a news conference at 4:30 PM ET and will broadcast it live on the department’s Facebook page.
Story developing …
