FSU Shooter Identified as Sheriff’s Son, Used Mother’s Gun in Deadly Attack

Phoenix Ikner, 20, has been identified as the gunman behind Thursday’s mass shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. He killed two people and injured six others before being shot and hospitalized. Authorities say he used a privately-owned gun that belonged to his mother, Deputy Jessica Ikner of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

Ikner had participated in the department’s youth programs and was familiar with law enforcement. A chilling Bible verse he posted on social media—“you are my war club, my weapons for battle…”—has raised concerns about his mindset before the attack.

A political science major, Ikner had recently mocked student protests over the 2024 election, suggesting there was little to do except revolt, which he dismissed as unlikely.

Eyewitnesses reported chaos, gunfire, and students fleeing the campus. Videos showed people hiding in classrooms and leaving belongings behind on the lawn. The campus was locked down, and nearby schools also took safety measures.

Police recovered multiple weapons, including a shotgun and pistol. The area around the Student Union remains an active crime scene. All classes were canceled for the day. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Trump issued statements, and Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare confirmed six victims remain hospitalized, one in critical condition.

FSU, home to about 45,000 students, had previously faced a shooting in 2014 at the Strozier Library.