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2025 Florida State University shooting

Coordinates: 30°26′33″N 84°17′48″W / 30.4425°N 84.2966°W / 30.4425; -84.2966
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Florida State University shooting
The Student Union Building, where the first shots were fired, pictured in 2023
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120m
131yds
1
LocationFlorida State University, Student Union Building, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Coordinates30°26′33″N 84°17′48″W / 30.4425°N 84.2966°W / 30.4425; -84.2966
DateApril 17, 2025; 4 days ago (2025-04-17)
11:56 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Attack type
Mass shooting, school shooting, shooting spree
Weapons
Deaths2
Injured7 (including the suspect)
VictimsTiru Chabba, Robert Morales
MotiveUnder investigation
AccusedPhoenix Ikner

On April 17, 2025, a mass shooting occurred on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. The alleged perpetrator, 20 year-old student Phoenix Ikner, killed two employees and injured six other people.[1][2][3] The suspect was shot by police and taken into custody.[1] Ikner was known on campus for his far-right, pro-Trump, election denialist, white supremacist views.[4][5]

The university issued an alert at 12:01 p.m. EDT (UTC−4) warning of a shooting at the Student Union area.[1] The Tallahassee Police Department has confirmed that they detained one male subject in connection with the shooting, and later confirmed that he was among the injured.[6] A search was made for any additional shooters, and some local TV stations across Florida reported that two suspects were involved. The Tallahassee Police Department announced that the campus has been secured, with only one suspect in custody.[7][8]

Background

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Florida State University was founded in 1851 and has an enrollment of more than 44,000 students and approximately 16,000 employees.[9] A previous shooting had occurred at the school in November 2014 when a gunman opened fire in the university's library around midnight, wounding three people before being killed by responding law enforcement.[9]

Shooting

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The suspect arrived at a Florida State University parking garage at approximately 11:00 a.m. before leaving at 11:51 a.m.[10] Gunshots were reported inside the Student Union Building around lunchtime at 11:56 a.m. The shooter walked in and out of buildings and green spaces firing a handgun.[11] A video shows a person in shorts and a T-shirt walking and firing across a lawn on campus.[12] According to the university's alert system, the first active shooter alert was issued after 12:00 p.m., and the second was issued at 12:19 p.m. After 15 minutes, all students inside were escorted out of the building by police.[13]

One student described seeing the alleged shooter firing a rifle in her direction. She reportedly heard 15 rounds fired indiscriminately for approximately 20 to 30 seconds.[14] She also said that the suspect had pulled up in an orange Hummer outside the university and started firing his rifle. He then pulled out a pistol and shot a woman in front of him.[15] Survivor Madison Askins claimed the shooter approached her, reloaded his weapon and calmly said "Keep running". She also added that he stayed where she was before eventually leaving.[16]

Another student who had been in the restroom at the start of the shooting thought the roof was collapsing before other students ran in and alerted her. Four of them held the door shut as it did not lock before being evacuated. Another group recounted being in the student union basement and barricading themselves in a corner behind trash cans and plywood. One student recounted how another student who had survived the Parkland high school shooting sheltered with them and exclaimed; "Man, I never thought this would happen again".[17]

Shortly after 3 p.m. the university alerted students that the lockdown was lifted for the majority of the campus after the suspect was shot four minutes after the first shot was fired at 12:00 p.m. by police for refusing to comply with commands, but that nine buildings were still under lockdown as active crime scenes.[18][19] Students nearby were advised to remain indoors and to not return to the building to retrieve personal items.[11]

A viral video at the university shows a person walking past and not helping a woman lying face down who was shot and bleeding out on the grass at the scene of the shooting to instead drink Starbucks coffee. The video caused outrage on Twitter with people saying the person was heartless, shameful and stupid.[20]

Three firearms were found by police: one on the arrested suspect, one in a car parked nearby, and a shotgun inside the building.[vague] One of the firearms recovered was the former service weapon of the suspect's stepmother, who was a Leon County Sheriff's deputy.[21]

Victims

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On the afternoon of April 17, Florida State University chief of police Jason Trumbower reported that two people were killed and an additional six injured had been admitted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, including the suspect. Five of the victims were shot, and the sixth injured while running away from the shooting.[22] The deceased victims were two adult males who were not students at the university.[23] They were identified as 57-year-old campus dining director Robert Morales, who was killed during a meeting with other university employees, and 45-year-old employee of a campus vendor Tiru Chabba. Chabba was a regional vice president at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.[24] Morales was from Miami-Dade County, and Chabba was from Greenville, South Carolina. Morales had worked at the university in dining services and as an assistant football coach since 2015.[25][26]

All seven injured victims were reported to be in fair condition on the day of the shooting. One of the injured victims was identified as a 23-year-old graduate student, who was shot in the buttocks while running away from the shooter.[16] Tallahassee Police Department Chief Lawrence Revell said it appears that there was no connection between the shooter and the victims.[27] On April 18, two were expected to be discharged, three were in good condition, and one remained in fair condition.[28] A surgeon said he expects all of them to make a full recovery.[23] The suspect remains hospitalized with significant injuries and is not speaking to law enforcement.[27]

Aftermath

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The university canceled all classes and business operations through April 18 and canceled all home events for their athletics teams through April 20.[29] Classes at nearby Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College were also cancelled.[30][31] Police increased patrols on the campus of Florida International University in response to the shooting.[32]

A large makeshift memorial was set up on a sidewalk near where the shooting took place and crosses with the deceased victims names were put up.[33] The university also held a vigil for the victims of the shooting at Langford Green in front of the Doak Campbell Stadium, the university's football stadium, in the afternoon of April 18.[28]

The FSU Foundation created a Student Emergency Fund that slated to provide financial support to students and families that were affected by the shooting.[34]

Suspect

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The suspect, Phoenix Ikner (born August 18, 2004), is a student of the university, a dual American-Norwegian citizen, and the stepson of a school reserve deputy from the Leon County Sheriff's Office.[35] Ikner obtained the guns used in the shooting from his step-mother.[23] Ikner graduated from Lincoln High School in May 2022,[36] and later went to Tallahassee State College (TSC) before transferring to FSU.

Ikner was born Christian Gunnar Eriksen, but his name was changed to Phoenix Ikner in 2020. At the age of 6, Leon County court records from 2011 showed that Ikner had to repeat kindergarten, while his parents fought bitterly over every aspect of his care while accusing each other of manipulation and abuse. Judges were forced to intervene multiple times as his parents traded allegations of domestic violence and stalking. The legal battle consumed nearly his entire childhood and ended only when he became an adult and most of the family court matters became moot.[37]

Ikner lived in Tallahassee throughout most of his life, despite being ​​listed in the population register under his Norwegian name as a Norwegian citizen, except in 2015, when his biological mother, who was born in Oslo, Norway, took her then-10-year-old son to the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and the two boarded a Scandinavian Airlines flight to Oslo in March 2015 in violation of the custody agreement she had with her father, after falsely telling his father that she was taking him to South Florida for spring break.[38] After four months, she was arrested on July 27 of that year at the same airport on a kidnapping charge in connection of the abduction, and both Ikner and his biological mother were transferred back to Leon County. His biological mother who had custody rights, though the agreement stipulated that she could not take him from the country without advance notification, said she would return Ikner to the United States on March 27, 2015, but failed to do so, according to a Leon County affidavit.[39][40][41][42]

His father later discovered that his son had been kidnapped when the then-10-year-old told him during a phone call, then quickly became worried and alerted authorities, saying that his son Ikner "has both developmental delays and special needs" which he feared would not be taken care of without access to his regular doctors. The affidavit from the Leon County Sheriff's Office said that Ikner was "on medication for several health and mental issues, to include a growth hormone disorder and ADHD." Several months later, in October 2015, his biological mother filed a lawsuit alleging slander and libel against Ikner's father, stepmother, and two other relatives, and sought $80,000 in damages to use toward Ikner's college fund. On July 14, 2016, his biological mother pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 200 days in prison with credit for 170 days of time served, followed by two years of community control and two more years of probation.[43]

Back in Tallahassee, Ikner was also a member of the sheriff's office's Youth Advisory Council from 2021 to 2022. During his later years, Ikner espoused white supremacist, far-right and homophobic views causing him to be kicked out of a political group at TSC.[44][45] He also advocated for President Donald Trump's agenda and was fascinated with German dictator Adolf Hitler and Nazism. He frequently argued with people over politics and joined hate groups. Ikner used a drawing of Hitler for an online gaming account and named another account Schutzstaffel.[46] His step-mother Jessica Ikner, who was the Leon County middle school deputy, was one of two officers that were named "2011 Deputies of the Year" by the Leon County Sheriff's Office's Citizen's Academy banquet in May 2011.[47] Jessica practiced shooting with Phoenix prior to the shooting.[46]

Reactions

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Ikner's biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, spoke privately in her Tallahassee apartment to ABC affiliate WPLG in Miami, saying that her son Ikner never wanted to hunt when he was little, and hasn't seen Ikner in several years prior to the shooting because she was alienated from him. Because of the issue, she told WPLG that she's been concerned for him after being isolated. She added that "all she wanted for him was a loving environment".[48]

Ikner's maternal grandmother, Susan Eriksen, described Ikner as the sweetest and smartest boy, and blamed both his father and step-mother following the shooting for their influence over their son, before calling his parents "rotten bastard people" and breaking down into tears multiple times. She revealed during an interview in another Tallahassee apartment that she and Ikner's biological mother had not seen Ikner since 2015 despite repeated attempts following their messy custody battle.[49]

Political

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President Donald Trump, after being informed about the shooting in the Oval Office during a press briefing, said that "It's a horrible thing. It's horrible that things like this take place, and we'll have more to say about it later".[50][51]

Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that they are praying for the law enforcement that responded to the shooting.[51] Senator Ashley Moody stated that she is "praying for the safety of the students".[52] DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until April 21 in Florida to honor the victims and recognize the first responders.[53]

Secretary of DHS, Kristi Noem, stated that her "heart breaks for the students, their families, and faculty at Florida State University".[8] FBI director Kash Patel said that he and his team had been briefed on the shooting. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated: "We will provide full support to local law enforcement as needed", he added: "Please keep the FSU community in your prayers".[54]

Democratic National Committee Vice Chair and Parkland survivor David Hogg was interviewed shortly after the shooting, and expressed concerns about gun safety. Hogg also mentioned other Parkland survivors and how they were affected by surviving two school shootings in less then eight years.[55]

Activists and organizations

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Fred Guttenberg, the father of the Parkland High School shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg, spoke out against the shooting, stating that all he wanted "...was to help our children be safe" in an effort to reduce gun violence. Guttenberg also mentioned that some of his deceased daughter's friends had gone on to attend Florida State University and some had been at the student union and survived their second school shooting.[56] Other Parkland shooting parents, family members and survivors echoed similar comments with Manuel Oliver father of victim Joaquin Oliver bluntly stating "I don't understand how anyone could be surprised" and the brother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff stating "I thought this would never happen again...but it continuously keeps happening -- and something has to change."[57][34]

American professional basketball team Miami Heat said "We are devastated by the senseless gun violence that claimed innocent lives in our state. Many members of our Heat family are Florida State alumni as well as parents of our current students, some of whom had chairs wedged under their dorm doors to barricade themselves inside. These students should be preparing for finals, not wondering if they should prepare to say final goodbyes. How many more of these events must take place before meaningful reform is enacted to end this epidemic?"[58][59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Coleman, Jamiya; Maynard, Chasity (April 17, 2025). "'People just started running': Six hospitalized, one in custody after shooting at Florida State's campus, per officials". WCTV. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  2. ^ Yan, Holly; Young, Ryan; Rosales, Isabel; Valencia, Nick; Smith, Drew (April 17, 2025). "At least 6 people injured in mass shooting at Florida State University". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  3. ^ Otero, Arianna; Rosica, Jim; Burlew, Jeff; Goñi-Lessan, Ana; Brown, Alaijah; Barrera, Elena (April 17, 2025). "FSU shooting: Two dead; six injured after police say deputy's son opened fire on campus". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  4. ^ Chuck, Elizabeth; Lenthang, Marlene; Ortiz, Erik (April 18, 2025). "FSU shooting suspect's complex past comes to light — yet motive remains a mystery". NBC News. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  5. ^ Cohen, Rebecca; Lenthang, Marlene; Santana, Cristian; Siemaszko, Corky (April 18, 2025). "FSU shooting suspect used stepmom's service weapon and had far-right views, police and classmates say". NBC News. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Arcodia, Juliette (April 17, 2025). "Police say 1 person in custody". NBC News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  7. ^ Dunbar, Marina (April 17, 2025). "At least one reported dead and five critical after Florida university shooting". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Shapiro, Emily (April 17, 2025). "FSU shooting latest: At least 1 dead, 6 injured; suspect in custody". ABC News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Calamur, Krishnadev (November 20, 2014). "Florida State University Gunman Shot Dead By Campus Police". NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "Tallahassee Police release timeline in Florida State shooting". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Hassan, Adeel; Holpuch, Amanda; Crowder, Valerie (April 17, 2025). "At Least 6 Hospitalized After Shooting at FSU: Live Updates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  12. ^ "Watch: Florida University shooter Phoenix Ikner opens fire in campus, killing 2". India Today. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "At least 1 dead after Florida State University shooting, suspect in custody". WEAR News. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  14. ^ Lenthang, Marline (April 17, 2025). "Student describes seeing shooter bring out rifle, then a pistol". NBC News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  15. ^ Hanlon, Greg (April 17, 2025). "Witness Describes Shooter Emerging from Orange Hummer". People. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Grad student shot at FSU recounts harrowing moment gunman reloaded as she played dead". ABC News. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  17. ^ Otero, Arianna (April 17, 2025). "FSU active shooting: Students on campus share experience of hearing gunshots, seeing injured students". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  18. ^ "Florida State gunman used deputy mom's former service weapon to kill 2 and wound 6, authorities say". Associated Press. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  19. ^ Lewis, Russell (April 17, 2025). "At least 6 people have been injured during a shooting at Florida State University". NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "Viral video after FSU shooting seems to show person sipping coffee while passing wounded victim". Tallahassee Democrat. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  21. ^ Hay, Andrew; McKay, Rich (April 17, 2025). "At least one dead in shooting at Florida State University". Reuters. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  22. ^ "FSU shooting suspect ID'd as deputy's son; gunman killed 2, injured 6: Updates". USA Today. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c "2 killed and 5 injured in mass shooting at Florida State University". CNN. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "Second victim of Florida State shooting identified as 45-year-old father of 2". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "FSU shooting victim remembered by school where he was assistant football coach". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "Miami-Dade man who founded popular Cuban restaurant killed in FSU shooting: Friend". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Florida State gunman still hospitalized with 'significant injuries': Chief". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  28. ^ a b "Deputy's son kills 2, injures 6 in shooting at Florida State University: Updates". USA Today. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  29. ^ Lewis, Russel (April 17, 2025). "At least 6 people have been injured during a shooting at Florida State University". NPR. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  30. ^ "A Message from FAMU Interim President Beard". Florida A&M University. April 17, 2025. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  31. ^ "Class Canceled Friday, April 18". April 17, 2025. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  32. ^ "Florida International University police to increase patrols following shooting at FSU". WTVJ. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  33. ^ "'I don't think any words can do it justice': FSU student athlete". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  34. ^ a b II, Mollye Barrows and Julius Whigham. "'Something has to change': These students survived the terror of FSU, Parkland shootings". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  35. ^ Figliola, Casey Tolan, John Miller, Curt Devine, Audrey Ash, Rebekah Riess, Hanna Park, Devon Sayers, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Mike (April 18, 2025). "What we know about the Florida State University shooting suspect". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ "Neighbors shocked knowing nearby neighbor is alleged FSU shooter". WFTV. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  37. ^ "Guns, Extreme Views and Chaotic Childhood Shaped Suspect in Florida State Shooting". New York Times. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  38. ^ "Shocking details emerge about shooter Phoenix Ikner's past, kidnapping by birth mother". livemint. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  39. ^ "Documents reveal early life, previous name of accused FSU shooter". WTLV-TV. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  40. ^ "FSU shooting suspect's stepmother is veteran deputy; deputies say he used her gun". WPLG. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  41. ^ "Phoenix Ikner was in custody dispute that spanned from Florida Panhandle to Norway". WPBF-TV. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  42. ^ "Dette er den antatte skoleskytteren". Dagbladet. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  43. ^ "What to know about Phoenix Ikner: Alleged FSU gunman and stepson of sheriff's deputy". ABC News. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  44. ^ "Exclusive: FSU suspect cracked jokes night before shooting in chat for Christian athletes". Miami Herald. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  45. ^ "Suspect espoused 'white supremacist' views, was asked to leave club, president says". NBC News. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  46. ^ a b "Florida State University shooting: Here's what we know about suspect, victims Saturday". Tallahassee Democrat. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  47. ^ "Shooting suspect is the son of a sheriff's deputy, official says". NBC News. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  48. ^ "FSU shooting suspect's mother: 'I had been concerned for him in the past'". WPLG. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  49. ^ "Grandma of alleged FSU gunman Phoenix Ikner calls his parents 'rotten bastard people' after deadly campus shooting". AOL. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  50. ^ Vaidyanathan, Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan (April 17, 2025). "No, Sam Hyde is not the Florida State University shooter". Hindustan Times. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  51. ^ a b Payne, Kate (April 17, 2025). "Suspect in custody in Florida State shooting and there are multiple victims, source tells AP". AP News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  52. ^ Wolf, Rachel (April 17, 2025). "FSU shooting: At least 6 injured, 1 person in custody as police investigate 'active crime scene". Fox News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  53. ^ "Florida flags to fly at half-staff for FSU victims: DeSantis". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  54. ^ Shepard, Skyler (April 17, 2025). "Suspect in custody after FSU shooting leaves at least 6 injured". KUTV News. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  55. ^ "Parkland survivor David Hogg says "we still have so much more work to do" after FSU shooting - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  56. ^ Acosta, Nicole (April 17, 2025). "Parkland Shooting Victim's Dad Says Late Daughter's Friends Were at FSU, Survived '2nd School Shooting'". People.com. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  57. ^ Shapiro, Emily (April 18, 2025). "FSU student survives shooting after losing sister in Parkland: 'Something has to change'". ABC News. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  58. ^ "Miami Heat decries 'senseless gun violence'". WTVJ. April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  59. ^ @MiamiHEAT (April 17, 2025). "We are devastated by the senseless gun violence that claimed innocent lives in our state. Many members of our heat family are Florida State alumni as well as parents of our current students, some of whom had chairs wedged under their dorm doors to barricade themselves inside. These students should be preparing for finals, not wondering if they should prepare to say final goodbyes. How many more of these events must take place before meaningful reform is enacted to end this epidemic?" (Tweet). Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via Twitter.
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