A tragic shooting rocked the Florida State University (FSU) campus on April 17, 2025, leaving two people dead and five others hospitalized. Authorities have identified the suspect as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a political science major at FSU and the son of a long-serving Leon County sheriff’s deputy.
The incident unfolded near the Student Union building around 11:50 a.m., when Ikner reportedly arrived in an orange Hummer and opened fire using a handgun and a shotgun. One of the weapons—a handgun—was confirmed to be a service firearm legally retained by his mother, a deputy with 18 years on the force.
Police say Ikner acted alone. He was shot by officers after refusing to comply with commands and is currently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two victims, both unaffiliated with the university, were pronounced dead at the scene. Five others, including students and bystanders, were rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and remain in fair condition.
Ikner was previously featured in a January 2025 segment on FSU News discussing student protests in the lead-up to Donald Trump’s re-inauguration. At the time, he commented on political demonstrations saying:
“These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons… I think it’s a little too late, [Trump’s] 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.”
Classes and all campus events at FSU were immediately canceled, with neighboring Florida A&M University taking similar precautions. The FBI has joined local law enforcement in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump issued statements expressing condolences to the victims’ families and promising a full investigation.
This incident has reignited national conversations surrounding campus safety, mental health, and access to firearms—particularly within law enforcement families.
