Authorities have identified the suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Florida State University as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a longtime Leon County sheriff’s deputy, officials said during a press briefing.
The shooting occurred around 11:50 a.m. near the student union, where Ikner allegedly opened fire on several individuals, killing two and injuring six others before being subdued by campus police, according to FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower. The two victims who died were not students, and the injured were transported to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare with stable conditions. Ikner was also hospitalized with undisclosed injuries following his arrest.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner accessed a handgun belonging to his mother, Deputy Jessica Ikner, which was consistent with the weapon recovered at the scene. Authorities also found a shotgun in Ikner’s possession, though it remains unclear if it was used during the attack. Jessica Ikner has served the sheriff’s office for more than 18 years and is highly regarded for her service, McNeil said.
Ikner had been involved with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, a program designed to foster communication between law enforcement and local youth. Sheriff McNeil described Ikner as a long-standing member of the council and noted it was not surprising he had access to firearms due to his close ties with the sheriff’s office community.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities emphasized their commitment to prosecuting the case fully. “This situation is tragic in ways that those of you here may not fully grasp from a law enforcement viewpoint,” McNeil said. “We will do everything in our power to prosecute and convey a message that such actions will not be tolerated”.
The FBI has joined the investigation, working alongside local agencies to determine the full circumstances of the attack.
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