20-year-old Phoenix Ikner Identified as Shooter on Campus at Florida State University

Son of Leon County Police Deputy

Deputy was a school resource officer.

Shotgun and handgun recovered from the scene.

6 Injured, 2 dead, 1 suspect.

Handgun used belonged to his mother, a sheriff's deputy.

Phoenix Ikner

The mother of Phoenix Ikner, the suspect in the Florida State University (FSU) shooting on April 17, 2025, is a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy with over 18 years of service. She is described as a school resource deputy, indicating her role likely involves working in schools to ensure safety and build community relationships. Authorities, including Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil, have praised her as an "exceptional" deputy with a "tremendous" record of service to the community. The weapon used by Phoenix Ikner in the shooting was a handgun, identified as a former service weapon that his mother had legally purchased for personal use after it was decommissioned, a practice not uncommon for deputies.

The FSView & Florida Flambeau article from January 2025, referenced in the Tallahassee Democrat, covered a protest organized by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Florida State University (FSU) on January 14, 2025. The protest, held at FSU’s Integration Statue near the Student Union, was an anti-Trump rally criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda and FSU’s policies. Phoenix Ikner, identified as a political science major, was quoted in the article commenting on the protesters: “These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons. I think it’s a little too late, he’s [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there’s not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”

The latest information regarding the Florida State University (FSU) shooting on April 17, 2025, identifies the shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and political science major, who was the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. Ikner used a weapon belonging to his mother, a school resource deputy, to carry out the attack near the Student Union, resulting in two deaths (neither victims were students) and six injuries. Ikner was shot by first responders, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, and was taken into custody. He invoked his right not to speak to police, and authorities have not confirmed whether a shotgun found in his possession was used in the shooting.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare received six patients, with one initially in critical condition and the others in serious condition. The campus was secured by mid-afternoon, with a shelter-in-place order lifted around 3 p.m. ET, though nine buildings, including the Student Union, remained an active crime scene. FSU canceled classes and business operations through Friday, April 18, and all athletic events through Sunday, April 20. The university established a reunification and support center at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center for students and families. The FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Tallahassee Police are investigating, with a press conference held at 4:30 p.m. ET providing these details. FSU President Richard McCullough called it a “tragic day,” expressing heartbreak over the violence.

Regarding prior criminal activity connected to Phoenix Ikner, no records or reports in the provided sources or publicly available information indicate any previous criminal history. His only noted public activity was a quote in a January 2025 FSView/Florida Flambeau article, where he commented on a Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society march, saying, “These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons.” If you need further details or have specific questions about the incident, please let me know.

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