Tallahassee, FL — A tragic shooting at Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus resulted in two fatalities and several injuries, causing shockwaves through a community familiar with past violence. The incident occurred around noon on Thursday when 20-year-old student Phoenix Ikner allegedly opened fire near the university’s student union.
Authorities identified Ikner as the shooter, noting that he used a firearm previously issued to his mother, a former Leon County Sheriff’s deputy. The weapon had been retained for personal use following an upgrade in the sheriff’s department arsenal. When police arrived at the scene, Ikner reportedly did not comply with verbal commands, leading officers to fatally shoot him. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
The violence left two men dead, neither of whom were students at the university, and wounded six others, one of whom was injured while fleeing. Local hospital officials reported that the injured parties were in fair condition.
Ikner had connections to law enforcement through his participation in the Leon County Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil expressed deep sorrow over the event, emphasizing the profound impact of the shooting on both the community and law enforcement.
The day following the tragedy, the university campus bore silent witnesses to the sorrow with scattered memorials of candles and flowers. A vigil was organized to honor the victims and provide a space for communal grieving and support.
Students and faculty were left in distress, with many like Carolina Sena, a 21-year-old accounting student, attempting to find safety during the chaos. “I heard some gunshots and then, you know, just blacked out after,” Sena recounted from her hiding place in the basement of the student union.
The university has since canceled all classes and declared the student union area an active crime scene to maintain safety and order as the investigation continues. The community was advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary to facilitate the work of law enforcement and emergency services.
In the broader context, this event marks another dark day similar to past incidents on U.S. academic campuses. The FSU shooting is the second such incident on this campus in the last 11 years, following a 2014 event where three were wounded. These occurrences underscore the ongoing issue of gun violence in educational settings, highlighting complex challenges at the intersection of campus security, mental health, and gun control.
Moving forward, the FSU community and its leadership face the task of healing and addressing the underlying issues that lead to such tragic outcomes. The discussion is likely to extend beyond Tallahassee as other institutions look to this incident as a somber reminder of the need for vigilance and preventative measures in protecting students and faculty alike.