The gunman behind the tragic April 17 shooting at Florida State University has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU and the son of a long-serving Leon County Sheriff’s deputy. Authorities confirmed that Ikner used one of his mother’s former service weapons in the attack, which left two people dead and six others wounded.
The shooting erupted just before noon near the university’s bustling student union, throwing the campus into chaos as emergency alerts triggered a swift lockdown. Students and faculty were forced to shelter in place while law enforcement secured the area.
Ikner, who was once involved in the sheriff’s office’s Youth Advisory Council and other law enforcement training programs, was reportedly familiar with police protocol. Responding officers confronted him near the scene, where he refused to obey commands and was shot. He is currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
Among the six injured, one remains in critical condition, while the others—including Ikner—are being treated for various injuries. The two individuals killed in the shooting were not students at the university, adding further complexity to the investigation.
The weapon used in the attack belonged to Ikner’s mother, a deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and had previously been issued to her during her service. How Ikner gained access to the firearm is under active investigation.
In response to the tragedy, Florida State University canceled all classes and events through the weekend, offering grief counseling and support services to students and staff. University officials described the incident as one of the darkest days in FSU’s history.
President Donald Trump issued a statement expressing his condolences and emphasizing the importance of mental health intervention and security on college campuses. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also offered his full support to the FSU community and praised law enforcement for their swift and courageous response.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are now working to determine Ikner’s motive. So far, no manifesto or public statement has been recovered. Authorities are combing through the suspect’s digital history, school records, and personal relationships in an effort to piece together what led to the deadly outburst.
The attack marks the second major shooting at Florida State in the past decade, renewing national conversations about safety protocols, access to firearms, and the role of mental health in preventing campus violence.
As the FSU community grieves and investigators work to uncover the truth, the question remains: how did a student with close ties to law enforcement gain access to a weapon—and what could have been done to stop him before tragedy struck?