A 20-year-old suspect opened fire at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday, killing two people and injuring six others before being shot and detained by police, authorities confirmed. The gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner and son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, used his mother’s legally owned handgun in the attack, according to investigators.
The shooting unfolded near FSU’s student union building around midday, prompting campus-wide lockdowns. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as students and visitors fled gunfire. "People started running. She just got trampled over," said Chris Pento, a parent touring the campus who recounted his daughter’s ordeal to local media.
Police emphasized Ikner acted alone, though his motive remains unclear. Four wounded victims and the suspect were hospitalized. Officials confirmed Ikner’s mother had previously purchased the firearm from her department after it was retired from service.
The incident marks FSU’s second campus shooting in a decade, reigniting debates over U.S. gun violence. Universities nationwide, including Michigan State and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, have faced similar tragedies in recent years.
