Florida State University shooting: Here's what we know about victims, suspect Sunday

Yahoo

20-04-2025

Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a Leon County sheriff's deputy, is the suspected shooter in an attack at Florida State University on Thursday, April 17, that killed two and injured six.
The shooting claimed the lives of Robert Morales, an FSU employee and high school football coach, and Tiru Chabba, 45, a married father of two from South Carolina, who was at FSU on a work-related visit.
Three victims improved to "good" condition, and one remained in "fair" condition Friday, according to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Stephanie Derzypolski.
One of the victims, Madison Askins, 23, told CBS Evening News in an interview from her hospital bed that she "played dead" to avoid being shot again by Ikner.
➤ 'I just need to play dead': Florida State University student on surviving campus shooting
A vigil held on campus Friday afternoon drew thousands to honor the victims.
Here's what we know about the shooting as of Sunday, April 20.
Madison Askins, 23, a survivor of the FSU shooting, told CBS Evening News she played dead during the attack to avoid being shot again.
"The minute I got shot, I remember my parents telling me I just need to play dead, I didn't want him to shoot me again, God forbid it," Askins told a CBS reporter in an interview from her hospital bed at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
She said she released all the muscles in her body, closed her eyes and held her breath as she listened to Ikner talk to himself while he reloaded his gun.
Florida State University President Richard McCullough announced new options for students for the end of the semester Saturday night after FSU students criticized the administration's decision to reopen campus four days after a shooting that killed two and injured six.
Florida State University students slammed the administration after President Richard McCullough announced earlier April 19 that the Tallahassee campus would reopen the following Monday – just four days after a gunman killed two people and injured six at the student union.
"Thanks for giving us a week off for snow (in January) and one day off for a mass shooting. You guys really care," one person commented on the school's Instagram post.
Another said, "ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I RAN FOR MY LIFE AND NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK A FEW DAYS LATER????"
More: FSU students blast decision to start classes Monday; president says teachers will be flexible
The suspected FSU gunman in an attack at Florida State University that killed two and injured six held a fascination with Hitler, Nazis and other hate groups, according to screenshots of his online activity captured by the Anti-Defamation League.
Suspect Phoenix Ikner used a drawing of Hitler as a profile photo for an online gaming account. For the name of another account, the 20-year-old used 'Schutzstaffel,' the name of the ruthless 'SS' paramilitary group that started out as Hitler's personal bodyguard, grew into death squads and ran the concentration camps where millions of Jews were murdered.
In the aftermath of the shooting on Thursday, people who knew Ikner said he had a history of espousing radical conspiracy theories and hateful ideas. The president of a student politics club said Ikner 'espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric' that they booted him from the group.
More: New records show suspected FSU shooter had troubling fascination with hate groups
The tight bond of the FSU family — built on students, faculty, alumni, and community members — was reflected in FSU President Richard McCullough's heartfelt assurances that it might hurt now, but they will heal by standing together.
'There is no manual on how we feel when something like this happens. I'm angry, you're angry…. I'm completely numb. Some of you are scared. I understand that,' he said. 'All those feelings are normal. There's no right response to tragedy. But I want to be clear — you're not alone.'
➤ Read more about the vigil here
Tallahassee police provided a timeline of the April 17 shooting at Florida State University.
11 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner arrives at an FSU parking garage.
11: 51 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner leaves the parking lot.
11:56 or 11:57 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner fires the first shot, then walks in and out of buildings and green spaces, firing a handgun.
11:58 a.m.: 911 calls report a male actively shooting on FSU campus. Nearby police officers respond.
By 12 p.m.: Phoenix Ikner is shot by responding officers and taken into custody.
The Florida State University shooting took what loved ones described as a big-hearted man.
Robert Morales, the university's dining coordinator, was one of the two people shot and killed during the mass shooting that shook the university and community.
Aside from his dining service work, Robert was a long-time special teams coach for Leon High School's football program and a partner in local favorite Gordos Cuban Cuisine.
The second victim in the April 17 mass shooting at FSU has been identified as Tiru Chabba, 45, of Greenville, South Carolina.
Chabba was identified via email by The Strom Law Firm, retained by the family to "ensure that all those who bear responsibility for this senseless act of violence are held to account."
Chabba was on the FSU campus Thursday as an employee of a campus vendor when he was shot and killed by Phoenix Ikner.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
Jessica Ikner, a middle school deputy, practiced shooting with her son, Phoenix Ikner, though "not in an official capacity," according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Walt McNeil said Phoenix was 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.'
He served on the agency's Youth Advisory Council and 'being the son of law enforcement, meant he was constantly exposed to firearm safety,' LCSO spokesperson Shonda Knight said.
Jessica Ikner is currently on personal leave and is being reassigned, 'sensitivity of the matter and to make sure she is properly acclimated under the circumstances,' Knight said.
Florida State University is located in the state's capitol, Tallahassee. It is found in the middle of the Panhandle between Jacksonville and Pensacola.
The main campus of Florida State University is officially located at 600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306.
A gunman, later identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire at the FSU Student Union at 11:50 a.m.
The university sent out an alert to students and faculty at 12:01 p.m. as law enforcement quickly descended on the campus.
"An active shooter has been reported in the area of Student Union. Police are on scene or on the way. Continue to seek shelter and await further instructions. Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures," the initial alert read.
Ikner was eventually shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital. He is believed to have acted alone, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the shooter was a 20-year-old FSU student and the stepson of a Leon County deputy.
"Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons found at the scene. We are continuing our investigation as to how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to," McNeil said during a press conference.
Ikner attended Lincoln High School and was a long-standing member of the 2021-22 Leon County Sheriff's Office Youth Advisory Council as a high school junior.
According to USA TODAY, students who knew Ikner were horrified but "weren't shocked given things he had said publicly."
Ikner's motive is still unknown.
"The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to us," Revell said at the press conference.
Ikner was known by other classmates for espousing extremist conspiracy theories and hateful ideas and was once kicked out of a "political round table" club for what one student claimed was frequent white supremacist and far-right rhetoric.
According to LCSO, Ikner acted alone during the shooting, despite online rumors of multiple shooters.
McNeil confirmed during a Thursday press conference that two people were dead and six others were hospitalized.
Derzypolski said three victims improved to "good" condition, and one remains in "fair" condition.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare will be holding a press conference at 1 p.m. at the hospital's auditorium.
A video has gone viral across social media showing someone walking past a wounded, bleeding woman lying face down on the grass. Rather than stopping to help or even running away from an active shooter, as what sounds like two shots are fired in the background, the person walks by while sipping from a Starbucks cup.
While officials believe the video is authentic, the Tallahassee Democrat is not running the video due to its graphic content and because it has not been verified as real or related to the FSU shooting.
See reactions: Viral video after FSU shooting seems to show person sipping coffee while passing wounded victim
The FBI has set up a tip line for anyone with information about the shooting that happened at FSU.
Anyone with video or audio media related to the incident, can upload it here.
Contributing: William Hatfield, Arianna Otero, Jim Rosica, Jeff Burlew, Ana Goñi-Lessan, Alaijah Brown, Elena Barrera, Brittany Misencik, Gregg Pachkowski, Mollye Barrows, Tallahassee Democrat, Michael Loria, USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU shooting: What we know about victims, shooter