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Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida State University shooting: What we know about victims, classes, suspect Tuesday
Memorials of flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and heartfelt messages lined the sidewalks and steps of the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee Monday as classes resumed four days after a gunman went on a shooting rampage that killed two and left six injured in less than five minutes. FSU President Richard McCullough was on hand to greet and comfort students returning to campus. "Yeah, I mean, it's emotional," he said. "Students are doing fine. Everybody I've talked to, they seem to be doing fine. They don't seem to be scared, which is good. But, you know, still, still reeling and emotional from what happened. "So I think, you know, having classes today was the right thing to do. A lot of the seniors told me that they would have felt very bad if we would have not had the option of them coming back, because it would have been the shooting and then graduation." The upcoming week of classes is the last before finals. In a statement Saturday night after backlash erupted over plans to open the campus Monday, McCullough said that classes would resume as scheduled, remote options would be available for many courses and attendance policies would be waived for students who weren't ready to come back. Many professors have give students the option to freeze their grades and made finals optional. They also made it so that coursework and tests after the shooting can only help students' grades. Five of the victims from the mass shooting Thursday at Florida State University in Tallahassee that left two dead and six injured have been released, officials at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said Tuesday. The sixth was listed in good condition. None of the victims have been identified, but one, Madison Askins, 23, gave an interview over the weekend and described how she pretended to be dead to avoid getting shot again. On Thursday, April 17, Tallahassee police say FSU student Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, used his mother's firearm to gun down students and adults before being shot and subdued by law enforcement. Here's what we know about the shooting as of Tuesday, April 22. Piper Greisl, an FSU undergraduate, described the two hours of waiting in a room with a heap of chairs barricading the door and the American flag used to cover the door's window in an essay for The Tallahassee Democrat. About 25 people were huddled up against the walls of the room, she said, while she, the professor, and four boys stood waiting, holding metal water bottles and trying to decipher the noises from outside and the floor above. "There was a safe word that campus police would say when evacuating rooms, but it was sent to the entire university through FSU Alert texts," Greisl said. "We were scared, we were anxious, and we wanted to survive. What would happen if a shooter knew the safe word?" On Monday, the Tallahassee Police Department said in a Facebook post that an FSU student dropped off cookies and a heartfelt note over the weekend, thanking them "for your bravery and courage." "It's unimaginable what students, faculty, and staff experienced that day," the post said. "To the FSU community: Our hearts and prayers remain with you. We're HERE for you. We stand with you. Always." 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. Police say Ikner waited for an hour in an FSU parking garage and then 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 from multiple agencies quickly descended on the campus. 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. Students were released from a shelter-in-place request after law enforcement cleared the campus. 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. 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. "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. '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. On Easter Sunday, students packed the pews for Easter Mass. 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. 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. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the shooter was 20-year-old FSU student Ikner, the stepson of Leon County Deputy Jessica Ikner. Born Christian Gunnar Eriksen, Ikner changed his name when he was 15 following a troubled childhood marked by decades-long custody battles between his parents. Ikner's biological mother spent about five months in jail after taking him against his will to Norway. Phoenix Ikner said that with his new name, he had hopes of rising from the 'ashes' of his childhood. 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. Sheriff Walt McNeil said Phoenix was 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.' Jessica Ikner, a middle school deputy, practiced shooting with her stepson, though "not in an official capacity," according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Ikner is currently on personal leave and is being reassigned, an LCSO spokesperson said. "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. As of Tuesday morning, April 22, Ikner is still hospitalized after being shot by law enforcement. Ikner faces a long list of charges, including first-degree murder, once he is released and transferred to the county jail. Ikner's motive is still unknown. "The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to us," Revell said at Thursday's press conference. According to USA TODAY, students who knew Ikner were horrified but "weren't shocked given things he had said publicly." 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. By the time Ikner had enrolled in Tallahassee State College last year in 2024, other students said he was expressing 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. The suspected FSU gunman held a fascination with Hitler, Nazis and other hate groups, according to screenshots of his online activity captured by the Anti-Defamation League. 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. More: New records show suspected FSU shooter had troubling fascination with hate groups The Miami Herald reported that Ikner was cracking jokes about getting a good night's rest after taking a hit to the head in an online chat for students in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at FSU and Tallahassee State College. After another student suggested he get hit again to cancel it out, Ikner replied, "Twice the head trauma, twice the power. I'm evolving." The FSU shooting occurred nearly 26 years to the day of one of the deadliest, most infamous school shootings: the attack and attempted bombing at Columbine High School in Colorado. On April 20, 1999, two 12th-grade students murdered twelve students and one teacher, the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in history to that point. The Columbine High School massacre has been the inspiration for dozens of copycat shooters, several of whom specifically planned for the anniversary. Florida State University is located in the state's capital, 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. According to LCSO, Ikner acted alone during the shooting, despite online rumors of multiple shooters. 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. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist in Askins' recovery. Donate here: (This story was updated with new information.) Contributing: William Hatfield, Arianna Otero, Jim Rosica, Jeff Burlew, Ana Goñi-Lessan, Alaijah Brown, Elena Barrera, Brittany Misencik, Gregg Pachkowski, Mollye Barrows of USA TODAY Network – Florida and Michael Loria of USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU shooting: What we know about victims, suspect, classes resuming
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
FSU shooting: Two dead; six injured after police say deputy's son opened fire on campus
FRIDAY UPDATES: Developments around the Florida State University shooting, victims, the suspect and how to find help are being updated here. The 20-year-old son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy used his mother's gun to go on a shooting rampage on Florida State University's Tallahassee campus Thursday, killing two people and wounding six others, law enforcement officials said. The alleged shooter was himself shot and taken to a local hospital. The surviving student victims were listed in fair condition. The first reports of a shooting came in around noon, sirens wailed for about an hour afterward. At around 3:30 p.m., the university was telling the campus community "law enforcement has neutralized the threat" but warned that multiple buildings were still "active crime scenes." Shortly afterward, authorities said they had "secured" the campus. The shock and sadness was palpable as students began to gather near Florida State University's student union building as the sun set Thursday evening. Birds chirped softly as dozens of students and young adults quietly clung to each other around a makeshift memorial that grew on the sidewalk leading to what was a gruesome and tragic scene just a few hours earlier. Some came alone. Others wandered over in pairs or with groups of friends. Many brought flowers, balloons and teddy bears. Others left letters and lit candles to honor the victims and comfort the survivors. . When panicked students fled for safety they left backpacks, ipads and even sandals behind. Students will be able to recover their belongings Friday. The campus community will be able to retrieve personal belongings from select campus buildings between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday, April 18. "Be prepared to produce a photo ID to claim your belongings," the university wrote on FSU Alert. All campus buildings will be locked but university faculty, staff, and volunteers will be on site at each of the following locations to assist individuals with claiming their belongings: Bellamy Building EAOS Building Carothers Building Dirac Science Library FSU Student Union Strozier Library HCB Classroom Building Leach Center Longmire Building Love Building Montgomery Hall Moore Auditorium Rovetta Business A&B Thagard Building. If your belongings were left in another campus building not on this list, or if you are unable to retrieve your belongings on Friday, please call 850-644-4444 between to 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. to schedule assistance. The university will open a Support Center at the Askew Student Life Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, April 18. Counseling and Victim's Advocate services will be available, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. The university will also hold a vigil for victims at 5 p.m. April 18 at Langford Green in front of the unconquered statue. A similar vigil was held on campus after the Strozier Library almost 11 years ago. And then again after the 2018 Hot Yoga Studio shooting that left an FSU student and former College of Medicine professor dead. The university will hold a vigil for the victims at 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue. After visiting injured FSU students at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said the students were very grateful to the campus community, law enforcement and hospital officials. "They love FSU and are very comfortable FSU's gonna take care of them," he said. "They want to get back in class." The students are all listed in fair condition "They're very upbeat. They clearly have injuries," Scott said. "But they are confident this hospital will take care of them. This hospital has great ... Tallahassee is blessed with the system they have here." Scott was governor during the 2014 FSU shooting at Strozier Library, the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting and the 2018 Parkland shooting. He said as a result the legislature passed historic bills that were signed into law, leading to more police on the streets, better mental health services with risk assessment tests and active shooter drills. This year's legislature has pondered rolling back some of those laws, including a prohibition that prevents 18-year-olds from owning long guns. "I believe in the legislation we passed. We worked hard to get that passed, but every legislature gets to decide what they want to do," he said. When asked what his message was for FSU students, he said "I can't say I know what everyone went through, but my heart goes out because people were traumatized by this." 7:21 p.m. – The university posted late Thursday on its Alerts website: "All classes on the main Florida State University campus in Tallahassee are cancelled Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18 due to a shooting at the Student Union. Employees should check with their supervisors to determine if they are essential personnel and for further reporting instructions." It added: "The Student Union and the surrounding area is still considered an active crime scene. The public and campus community should avoid the area. Students should not return to the Student Union to retrieve personal property at this time. Students may return to their residence halls but they should otherwise stay indoors on the main campus to allow law enforcement and university staff to do their jobs and respond to those needing assistance. Suwannee, Seminole Cafe and dining options in the Honors Building are open until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17. "The following buildings are currently CLOSED: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Strozier and Dirac Libraries, Hecht House and Carraway. Individuals should not return to these buildings to retrieve personal property at this time. Individuals are free to move about other areas of campus. "Students who need assistance should reach out to our Counseling & Psychological Services team at (850) 644-TALK (8255). Individuals who may have witnessed anything of value should call 850-891-4987. Individuals who may have photo or video evidence should report it to "All victims' families have been contacted. Many individuals have been separated from their belongings, including their personal cell phones, as a result of today's events. We continue to urge all students and staff to contact their family members as soon as possible to let them know they are safe and well. Individuals who left belongings in buildings during the incident should fill out the survey at this link Individuals who fill out the survey will be notified of the process to collect their belongings Friday. "All FSU athletics events in Tallahassee are canceled through Sunday." 6:19 p.m. – In an open letter to the FSU community, university President Richard McCullough shared the experience of a "tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus." He wrote, "At lunchtime, an active shooter opened fire at the Student Union. Two were killed. Six others were injured. We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost. We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting. "I've been in constant contact with our law enforcement and emergency teams since the incident began. The FSU Police Department, along with the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Highway Patrol, responded immediately and decisively. FSU Police contained the threat and prevented even greater tragedy. I am grateful for their courage and professionalism. "Right now, our focus is on taking care of people. That means the victims and their families. It means students, faculty, and staff who were nearby and are now trying to make sense of what they experienced. And it means every person in our campus community who is feeling shaken or overwhelmed. "We are working closely with our leadership, law enforcement, and mental health professionals to ensure that everyone has the support they need. If you're struggling, please reach out to our Counseling & Psychological Services team at (850) 644-TALK (8255). You are not alone. "There will be more updates in the days ahead, and more time to reflect and heal. But now, we mourn together. We lean on one another. And we remember who we are. We are Florida State. We are family. And we stand together." 5:30 p.m. – Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a video statement on X on behalf of himself and First Lady Casey DeSantis regarding the FSU shooting. A transcript is below: "Casey and I stand in solidarity and are praying for the entire Florida state community. We're mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well those who are currently recovering in the hospital. This killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. "I want to also thank the law enforcement personnel who were on the scene, both for the university as well as for the city of Tallahassee. They ran towards the danger. They stopped this killer from inflicting more harm, and there is no question that they saved lives. "We are all Seminoles today. We stand by to help in any way that we can. God bless you and God bless Florida State University." His official schedule, released Thursday evening, showed he and his wife had visited TMH at 6 p.m. He also logged phone calls earlier in the day with FSU President Richard McCullough (1:20 p.m.) and FSU Board of Trustees chair Peter Collins (1:30). Directly afterward (1:50), he had a call with FBI Director Kash Patel, presumed to be about the shooting. 4:56 p.m. – In a new public statement on the shooting, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred today at FSU. Our hearts are with the students, families, and everyone impacted by this heartbreaking situation." The hospital, which is a Level II trauma center, received Thursday's victims. "TMH has six patients related to this incident, all of which are currently in fair condition. Our dedicated trauma teams are providing the highest level of care to all patients, and we remain fully mobilized to meet their needs. We continue to work closely with emergency responders and public safety officials. Out of respect for patient privacy and to ensure the accuracy of information, we will provide updates as appropriate. "We ask for the community's support and compassion during this difficult time." 4:38 p.m. – Law enforcement officials now have confirmed two people dead and six injured in Thursday's shooting on the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University. The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy. He used an old service weapon belonging to his mother, a school resource deputy for Raa Middle School, who was using it for personal protection. He was shot by first responders and taken to TMH. "This is a tragic day for Florida State University," said FSU President Richard McCullough. "We're absolutely heartbroken by the violence." Ikner was quoted in an FSView/Florida Flambeau this January reacting to a Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) march on campus. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' said Ikner, a political science major. 'I think it's a little too late, (Trump is) 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.' The FBI also has launched an online tip line: "If you have any video or audio media related to the incident, please upload here," the site says. 4:12 p.m. – Students who were on campus during the active shooter situation at Florida State University on April 17 that has left six injured, describe their "terrifying" experiences. The event was still unfolding as of 3:15 p.m. Thursday with "shelter in place" alerts still remaining on campus. These scenes have become all too familiar in Florida, where the Parkland shooting occurred just seven years ago and FSU was home to a shooting some years ago. Read the full story here. 4:10 p.m. – An event at Florida State University designed to promote safety on campus and among FSU students was canceled − due to an active shooting at FSU on the day of. The active shooting occurred on the day of the "United Against Hate" event that sheds a light on 21-year-old Maura Binkley, a senior at FSU who was one of two victims killed Nov. 2, 2018, in the Tallahassee hot yoga studio shooting. Binkley and 61-year-old Dr. Nancy Van Vessem died after a gunman with a long history of abusive behavior and hatred against women opened fire in the hot yoga studio. Read the full story here. 3:43 p.m. – The news conference on the FSU shooting, previously announced for 4 p.m. at the university's Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center on West Pensacola Street, is now set for 4:30. 3:33 p.m. – Andrew Cheyne, a senior studying media and communications, was in the basement of the FSU Student Union during a billiards class. He said someone came running into the billiard hall from the bowling alley that's also in the basement, and that people at Proof Brewing Co., a bar in the building, had barricaded themselves in the restrooms there. 'They were concerned that something had happened,' said Cheyne. He said a teacher came into the billiard hall, then the bowling coach, who locked the doors to both rooms. 'We waited in there for about 10 or 15 minutes, maybe 30 or 40 of us holed up.' He prayed, leaning on his Christian faith, even as he described himself as 'frightened.' 'We waited and waited, and then got a call from police saying that we'd be getting out of the building.' The group moved behind the bowling alley first, then waited a little longer before being escorted outside by police. Cheyne said he saw one man on the ground in handcuffs, another injured person, and 'paramedics, and tons and tons of police.' Family, friends and loved ones messaged him to make sure he was OK, and the Lakeland native said he was planning to pack a bag and go home for a few days, to spend the Easter holiday with his family. Before the shooting, he'd been working on a written reflection of his time at the school. 'It made me thankful' to attend a school he loved. 'To think someone would try to harm this beautiful community in Tallahassee makes me sad, and makes me wonder what's wrong with them.' —Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY 3:23 p.m. – The latest from FSU Alerts: "Law enforcement has neutralized the threat. Please avoid the Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House and Carraway as they are still considered an active crime scene. Individuals are free to move about other areas of campus." Those who may have "witnessed anything of value" are asked to call 850-891-4987. 3:16 p.m. – Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare issued an additional statement: "TMH has received a total of six patients related to this incident. At this time, one patient is in critical condition and five are in serious condition. Our dedicated trauma teams are providing the highest level of care to all patients, and we remain fully mobilized to meet their needs." Also, a Tallahassee police spokesperson told the Democrat they had "one man in custody." 2:48 p.m. – A news conference on the FSU shooting has been announced for 4 p.m. at the university's Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center on West Pensacola Street. The university also updated its "Alerts" page: "All Florida State University classes and business operations on the main campus in Tallahassee are canceled through Friday, April 18. Essential employees should check with their supervisors for further reporting instructions. All FSU athletics events in Tallahassee are canceled through Sunday. "Students who need assistance can go to the Donald L. Tucker Center where the university is providing counseling, health care, and other support services. Family members are also able to go to the Tucker Center for assistance. Students, faculty and staff are asked to call their loved ones as soon as possible to update them on their status. "The Student Union and the surrounding area is still considered an active crime scene. Individuals should avoid the area. Students should not return to the Student Union to retrieve personal property at this time. "Students may return to their residence halls but they should otherwise stay indoors on the main campus to allow first responders and university staff to do their jobs and respond to those needing assistance. Students may depart campus for the weekend." 2:34 p.m. – "All LCS schools are back to normal operating procedures. Lockout has been lifted district wide," the district posted on X. Also, a student reunification center has been established at the Tucker Civic Center, according to a social media post by TPD. 2:31 p.m. – Law enforcement is still clearing campus buildings. The university announced that "all classes and business operations are canceled through Friday, April 18." It added: "Essential employees should check with their supervisors for further reporting instructions. Athletics events in Tallahassee are canceled throughout the weekend." 2:26 p.m. – The last time Florida State had an active shooter was in November 2014. Myron May, 31, went into the university's Strozier Library just after midnight and opened fire, injuring three before he was quickly shot and killed in a hail of bullets by Tallahassee and FSU police. May, an FSU graduate and attorney who was mentally ill and suffered from paranoia, used a .380 semi-automatic during the on-campus shooting and shot at seven people. The three injured in that shooting included one employee and two students, including Farhan Ronny Ahmed, a student at the time who was paralyzed from the hip down after being shot. 2:12 p.m. – Paige Miller, an FSU freshman, was in the restroom outside her classroom at the Moore building next to the Student Union when she heard four loud bangs.'I thought it was the roof collapsing honestly, and then suddenly three girls come running in and one of them was crying," she said. "One of the girls looks over at my stall and tells me to call the police because there's an active shooter.'She called 911. With no lock on the restroom door, they held it shut for 20 minutes until police arrived. When she came outside, she saw one person on the ground surrounded by officers. Miller assumed he was a shooter but wasn't sure. Miller also heard police say they were looking for a shotgun. She saw what appeared to be two injured people on the ground by the Student Union.'We saw them when they were still on the grass,' she said. 'I think they moved a couple to the pavement.' She said law enforcement was swarming everywhere: 'It was terrifying.' 2:10 p.m. – Various social media posts and news reports have differing numbers of injured and deaths but law enforcement as of 2 p.m. had not confirmed any deaths from Thursday's shooting. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare spokesperson Stephanie Derzypolski earlier told the Democrat TMH ER staff was treating received six patients, one in critical condition and the others in serious condition. 2:04 p.m. – "All Florida State athletics home events through Sunday, April 20, have been canceled," the university posted on X. "Further updates on events scheduled for next week will be communicated when available." 1:53 p.m. – Sam Swartz and Sean Gulledg said they were in the basement of the FSU student union when the shooting started. 'Everyone started freaking out,' Swartz said. He said they heard maybe 10 gunshots while they were working on a group project. The group of eight cornered themselves in a hallway and started to barricade the opening with trash cans and plywood. 'I remember learning to do the best you can to make them take time because they don't want to do anything that takes time, they're just trying to get as many people,' Swartz said. The whole event took maybe 10 minutes, Gulledg added, 'but it felt a lot longer.' Students heard law enforcement officers going up and down hallways telling everyone to come out with their hands up. Everyone was patted down and checked before evacuating. Gulledg, a resident assistant, said they train for these types of situations, but never thought they'd ever have to use them. 'I trusted the training,' he said. 1:48 p.m. – USA TODAY reports that President Donald Trump says he has been "fully briefed" on the active shooter at Florida State University in Tallahassee. "It's a shame. It's a horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place," Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office. 1:43 p.m. – The governor wrote on X, "Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding." 1:34 p.m. – Rafael Fernandez, a sophomore at FSU, was in class in the Rovetta Building when an alarm came over the PA system and an alert flashed on the screen in the lecture hall. His professor locked the doors and students stood in an area of the room without windows. Eventually TPD officers arrived, and they opened the doors. "We walked out with our hands up, and we were escorted out of the building into a clear area, a safe zone," Fernandez said. 1:30 p.m. – Students in the College of Business building adjacent to the student union said they heard a teacher run down the hallway alerting them of the shooter in the junior Angel Dejesus said his class all hid in a smaller room within the classroom he was in with the doors said he was studying for a final exam that he had in an hour trying to drown out the chaos, but it got 'much more serious' when a student who lived through the Parkland shooting entered the room.'He was like, 'Man, I never thought this would happen again,' ' Dejesus said. 1:25 p.m. – Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare spokesperson Stephanie Derzypolski confirmed to the Tallahassee Democrat that they now have received six patients, one in critical condition and the rest in serious condition. The hospital has "the only Level II trauma center in the Big Bend region," its website says. A Level II trauma center is "required to have trauma surgeons on-call 24/7." 1:22 p.m. – Tallahassee police spokesperson Alicia Turner advised the campus community to continue following the orders of FSU officials, who told students at 12:45 p.m. to continue to shelter in place. Media are staging at the Turnbull Center on Pensacola Street. A media briefing is scheduled for mid-afternoon. 1:12 p.m. – Will Schatz, an FSU senior, was in Strozier Library on campus around noon with friends when he saw people running. He ran with them, exiting the back of the library at West Call and Dewey streets. "I could have sworn I saw a cop running after somebody and screaming something when we ran out," he said. "Then when I got out, I heard seven to eight gunshots. I'm not sure if that was the shooter shooting or if the cops shot the shooter." He called his mother right after he got out of the library to tell her he was OK and what happened. Since then, he said he saw four students loaded into ambulances and taken away. 1:05 p.m. – A Tallahassee police spokesperson confirmed that one person is in custody but could not confirm any deaths. There were, however, "multiple injuries." 12:58 p.m. – U.S. Marshals with what appeared to be automatic weapons asked students gathered near West Call and Dewey streets to disperse because other students were still being led from the campus' student union. "So many people in that building right now, so many to get out," a marshal was overheard saying. 12:51 p.m. – The Democrat's Alicia Devine is on the FSU campus. Other journalists on scene posted video of students being led off campus with hands raised. 12:48 p.m. – The website posted this message: "Continue to shelter in place. Police have responded to an active shooter call at the Student Union. Stay alert for more information. Persons in need of immediate emergency assistance should call 911 or FSUPD at 850-644-1234." 12:44 p.m. – "TMH is actively receiving and caring for patients related to an incident that has occurred at Florida State University. At this time details are still unfolding, and we do not have specific information to share. However, we want to assure the community that our teams are fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected. "We remain in close coordination with emergency responders and public safety officials. Out of respect for patient privacy and to ensure accurate information, we will provide updates as soon as they are available. We ask for your patience and compassion during this difficult time." 12:42 p.m. – WCTV says four people have been taken to Tallahassee Memorial with injuries. "I have not been able to confirm that number just yet," a hospital spokesperson said. 12:37 p.m. – According to Leon County Schools spokesperson Chris Petley, all Leon County schools are on lockdown as of 12:15 p.m. 12:28 p.m. – The Leon County Sheriff's Office has sent its helicopter to go over the campus, according to LCSO spokesperson Javonni Hampton. First responders – including state troopers, fire, and various police agencies – were swarming the campus. A reporter said ambulances were seen heading to FSU and away, in the direction of Tallahassee Memorial, which has a trauma center. "An active shooter has been reported in the area of Student Union. Police are on the 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 text message alert reads. The Tallahassee Democrat attempted to reach FSUPD but were told all lines were being used. A call was also made to the Tallahassee Police Department and spokesperson Lt. Damon Miller said to "call FSUPD." Sirens could be heard all over downtown Tallahassee Thursday morning. An employee who works in the Bellamy Building told a reporter the building was on lockdown and law enforcement was evacuating people floor by floor. That same person said she heard what sounded like gunfire inside the building. Still another person in the same building reported what sounded like semi-automatic gunfire. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida State shooting: Two dead; six injured; shooter identified
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Live updates: Vigil planned to honor victims of FSU shooting. Here's how victims are doing
Florida State University's main campus in Tallahassee is closed today after a "heinous crime" took the lives of two people and left six others injured April 17. A suspect, the 20-year-old son of a Leon County deputy, was shot by campus police when he didn't respond to commands to surrender, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Officials said the gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner, began firing near the student union building shortly before noon and the FSU Alert system warned of an active shooter and to seek shelter. A massive response by law enforcement followed. ➤ FSU shooting timeline: See how the mass shooting unfolded All classes at the Tallahassee campus are canceled for April 18 and all athletic events were canceled through April 20 as the investigation continues. Students gathered around makeshift memorials Thursday night, April 17, bringing flowers, letters and teddy bears. Others left letters and lit candles to honor the victims and comfort the survivors. The university plans to hold a vigil for the victims at 5 p.m. April 18, at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue. Here's what is happening today. Tallahassee police said Phoenix Ikner opened fire near the student union of Florida State University's Tallahassee campus, killing two people and injuring six more before officers arrived. ➤ Who is Phoenix Ikner? FSU shooting suspect was son of deputy, espoused radical ideas Details are still trickling out, officials said Ikner, 20, is the son of a veteran Leon County sheriff's deputy, and he used her gun in the shootings. Ikner is a political science student at FSU known by other classmates for espousing extremist conspiracy theories and hateful ideas. 9:03 a.m., April 18: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare issued a statement about the shooting victims. "We are grateful for the outpouring of support for our emergency, trauma, and nursing teams. We are honored to be the hospital providing care to these patients. "Patient update as of 9 a.m. April 18, 2025: Two patients are expected to be discharged today. Three have improved and are in good condition. One remains in fair condition." 10:15 p.m. April 17: The campus community will be able to retrieve personal belongings from select campus buildings between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, April 18. Be prepared to produce a photo ID to claim your belongings. All campus buildings will be locked but university faculty, staff, and volunteers will be on site at each of the following locations to assist individuals with claiming their belongings: Bellamy Building EAOS Building Carothers Building Dirac Science Library FSU Student Union Strozier Library HCB Classroom Building Leach Center Longmire Building Love Building Montgomery Hall Moore Auditorium Rovetta Business A&B Thagard Building If your belongings were left in another campus building not on this list, or if you are unable to retrieve your belongings on Friday, please call 850-644-4444 between to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule assistance. 9:30 p.m., April 17: The university will open a Support Center at the Askew Student Life Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18. Counseling and Victim's Advocate services will be available, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. 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. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU shooting suspect: Updates, vigils, victim info
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘We owe our children better.' Parkland survivors traumatized again by FSU shooting
The shooting that left two people dead at Florida State University and several others wounded Thursday tragically threads to the survivors and loved ones of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting seven years ago. Some of the students who were at the school during the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting now attend Florida State. And family members of the Parkland victims now have children at the Tallahassee university. 'When I first got the FSU Alert via text message, my heart dropped. It's a feeling I know all too well, panic, fear, disbelief. No parent should ever have to experience this once, let alone twice,' said Lori Alhadeff. The Broward County School Board member's daughter Alyssa was among the 17 people murdered by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. READ MORE: Two dead, suspect in custody after sheriff's deputy's son opens fire at FSU Alhadeff funneled her grieving into activism, founding Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit with the goal of curbing gun violence at schools. Now, her son Robbie is an underclassman at FSU, and news of the violence at the college rushed in familiar dread to Alhadeff and her family. 'My immediate thoughts were: Is my son safe? Is this really happening again? It's every parent's worst nightmare, and for me, it was a horrifying déjà vu,' Alhadeff said. Alhadeff was able to get in touch with her son, who she said is 'physically safe, but emotionally shaken, as are so many students and parents right now.' 'Even when there's no injury, the trauma of hearing shots fired or being on lockdown can leave lasting scars and trauma,' she added. Police said Thursday's shooting was carried out by a student who opened fire at Florida State University's main campus with a handgun owned by his mother, a Leon County Sheriff's deputy. The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, shot eight people before he was shot by police and taken into custody, according to Tallahassee's police chief. Cameron Kasky is a Parkland survivor and, as a result, a founding member of Never Again MSD, a gun-violence prevention group, as well as an organizer of the March 2018 March for Our Lives student protests calling for gun law reforms. Asked by the Herald how he felt when hearing about what happened at FSU Thursday: 'Unsurprised.' And, he's pessimistic anything will change. 'This is what happens in Florida and all over our country. America is a very violent place, and people are not safe in schools,' Kasky said. 'When I see these shootings happen, I do not wonder how it could've happened, I reflect upon how inevitable it is.' Kasky's classmate, David Hogg, now vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has also been an outspoken gun control advocate since surviving Parkland, and was among the more visible faces in the March for Our Lives movement. He told CBS News Thursday that the FSU shooting highlights the continued need for stronger laws, and he warned of the efforts among some Republicans in the Florida Legislature to roll back of reforms that were achieved in the wake of Parkland. 'There are a lot of students from Parkland at FSU, and what really bothers me is, in Florida, we worked in a bipartisan manner to pass reforms after Parkland,' he told CBS's Major Garrett. 'We passed a red flag law that has been used over 19,000 times to disarm people who were a risk to themselves and others.' Hogg also said that the fact that many of his former classmates are reliving the horror of another mass shooting is a reason not to become complacent as the memory of what happened at FSU fades from the headlines. 'To go through something like this once, this is something that's not supposed to happen at all,' Hogg said. 'We act like these are natural disasters in this country. It's not. This doesn't happen in other countries.' Fred Guttenberg's 14-year-old daughter Jaime was also killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. His son was also a student at the school and had to run away from the shooting to the shelter of a nearby restaurant. Since then, Guttenberg has become an outspoken advocate for tougher gun laws, including those that would make it more difficult for young people to access firearms. He noted that the gunman targeted the freshman building at Marjory Stoneman Douglass, the 1200 building, and many of those first-year high schoolers are now months away from graduation at Florida State. 'Dozens of students who had to run through the carnage of the student union today at FSU today had to run through the carnage of the 1200 building at Marjory Stoneman Douglass. This is their second shooting. It's not normal,' Guttenberg said. One Stoneman Douglas alum, Josh Gallagher, said on X that he was in the FSU law library when he heard 'active shooter' over an alarm. 'After living through the MSD shooting in 2018, I never thought it would hit close to home again,' Gallagher wrote. ' No matter your politics, we need to meet — and something has to change. Prayers to the victims and families.' Alhadeff has a message for Florida lawmakers as this year's Legislative session nears its end: 'Enough is enough.' 'Thoughts and prayers are not a policy. We need real action, immediately. Every moment lawmakers delay, lives are on the line,' she said. And, it's not just access to guns that is a problem, Alhadeff said. Policy makers also have to look at fortifying schools, colleges and universities, and pass laws that make it easier to identify people capable of causing widespread harm and death before they act, she said. 'Fund school safety at all levels. There needs to be a continuation of the Behavioral Threat Assessment process to include colleges and Universities. And fully fund mental health support,' Alhadeff said. 'Ensure every school has life-saving technology like panic buttons.' 'Stop the politics and start protecting our kids. We cannot become numb to this. We owe our children better.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
FSU shooting: 2 dead, 6 hurt; suspected shooter identified as student, son of Florida school resource deputy
The Brief Victims: 2 people killed, 6 others hurt, officials said. Suspect: Identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU and son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy. Timeline: FSU first issued an active shooter alert around 12 p.m. Thursday. Where is FSU? Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida, home of the state Capitol. More than 40,000 students attend FSU. Student reunification: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the indoor arena at FSU. A suspected student at Florida State University pulled out a gun and began shooting as students and others gathered for lunch Thursday near the Student Union, officials said. Two people – said to not be students – were killed, and six other people were hurt. The suspected gunman, a 20-year-old FSU student and the son of a Florida school resource deputy, was shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital for treatment, officials said. FSU has canceled classes Thursday and Friday at its Tallahassee campus. All athletic events in Tallahassee are canceled through Sunday, the school said. A vigil will be held Friday at 5 p.m. at the Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue, FSU said. What we know Florida State University has canceled classes Thursday and Friday in the wake of the shooting. All FSU athletic events in Tallahassee have been canceled through Sunday, April 20. "The Student Union and the surrounding area is still considered an active crime scene. The public and campus community should avoid the area. Students should not return to the Student Union to retrieve personal property at this time," the University said in a statement on its FSU Alert web page. Several buildings are closed: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Strozier and Dirac Libraries, Hecht House and Carraway. Students are asked to stay away and not return to get any belongings that were left behind. FSU said Thursday night all victims' families had been contacted. "All victims' families have been contacted. Many individuals have been separated from their belongings, including their personal cell phones, as a result of today's events. We continue to urge all students and staff to contact their family members as soon as possible to let them know they are safe and well." VIGIL: A vigil will be held on Friday, April 18, at 5 p.m. at the Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue, FSU said. FBI: Anyone who has video, photos, or audio related to the shooting at FSU, can submit it to the FBI, here. The backstory The shooting was reported around noon on Thursday, April 17. At 12:02 p.m., FSU sent out an emergency alert warning about reports of an active shooter near the Student Union. It urged students to shelter in place, lock doors and windows, and to "be prepared to take additional protective measures." At 3 p.m., the university said in an update that the threat had been neutralized and that law enforcement was actively clearing rooms. Tallahassee Police announced at the same time that the campus had been secured, though multiple law enforcement agencies – local, state, federal – were on site and at the school. At 4:30 p.m., officials confirmed 2 deaths, 6 injuries, and that the suspected shooter was in custody. The suspected gunman has been identified by law enforcement as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a current student at Florida State University. He is also the son of a school resource deputy with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. He had a handgun and a shotgun in his possession, officials said, adding that the handgun belonged to his mom, the sheriff's deputy. It was her service weapon at one point, but at some point she purchased it, so it was her personal handgun, Chief Revell said. He said it is common that when a gun gets upgraded or replaced, that the law enforcement officer has the option to purchase it. The suspect declined to talk with deputies about the shooting and invoked his 5th Amendment right. Officials believe that the suspect's gunman acted alone. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said Ikner was a longtime member of the sheriff's department's Youth Advisory Council. " The YAC is designed to bring topics of mutual interest to Leon County youth and local law enforcement directly to the attention of Sheriff McNeil through open dialogue. Members of the YAC will develop skills in advocacy, leadership, and team building while creating strategies to address community issues. They will use their voices to share their experiences to help make the youth of Leon County – ALLin!" reads a web page on the Leon County Sheriff's Office website. Two people were killed in the FSU shooting, and six others were injured. Florida officials said the two people killed were not students, but did not elaborate further. Officials also did not specify if any of the six people hurt were students, faculty members, or visitors to FSU's campus. A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare confirmed to FOX 35 Orlando earlier Thursday that it was treating at least six patients. At the time, one was listed in critical condition, while the others were listed in serious condition. What they're saying FSU President Richard McCullough "Today, we experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus. At lunchtime, an active shooter opened fire at the Student Union. Two were killed. Six others were injured. We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost. We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis "We stand with Florida State University. Today, we are all Seminoles," DeSantis said in a post on X. President Donald Trump "It's a horrible thing. Horrible that things like this take place. And we'll have more to say about it later," he said from the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance and others. Florida Rep. Jimmy Patronis "Monitoring the situation at FSU as we work to learn more. Praying for our first responders responding to the scene and for those who are injured," he said in a post on X. Florida Democratic Party - Nikki Fried "Our hearts are heavy as we grieve with the victims and families of those who were killed and injured in a mass shooting on Florida State University's campus today. We are grateful to the rapid and effective response from first responders and law enforcement who responded quickly to the shooter and conducted a thorough sweep of the campus to secure the scene. Their professionalism and coordination saved lives." "This is every student's worst nightmare, every parent's greatest fear and a day that educators hope will never come. To all of the students and teachers traumatized by the violence unleashed on them today, we are with you — and to the students who survived Parkland and currently attend FSU, we are so sorry you had to endure this terror again. Our elected officials have failed you." The Source The information and updates on the FSU shooting are from several sources: Florida State University, Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff's Office; local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; FOX 35 reporters; and witness accounts.
