Authorities have identified the suspect in Thursday’s tragic shooting at Florida State University as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a current sheriff’s deputy in Leon County.
According to Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, Ikner had access to a firearm that once belonged to his mother—a former service weapon she legally purchased and owned as personal property at the time of the shooting. Sheriff McNeil also confirmed that Ikner was previously involved in the sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council.
The attack, which took place near the FSU Student Union, left two people dead and at least five others injured, according to FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower. The deceased have not yet been identified but were confirmed not to be students at the university. Ikner was also hospitalized and is being treated for injuries.
“This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law enforcement perspective,” Sheriff McNeil said during a press conference. “But I will tell you this—we will do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation.”
FSU canceled classes through Friday as the campus community grapples with the aftermath of the violence. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the motive behind the attack and the events that led up to it.
This story is developing.
