FSU Shooting Suspect Was Son of Sheriff's Deputy, and Gun Used in Shooting Belonged to Her: Authorities

The shooter who killed two people and injured five others in a mass shooting at Florida State University was the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was “deeply embedded” in the law enforcement community.

Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner during a press conference Thursday, nearly five hours after the shooting began outside the university’s student union building.

Ikner, 20, allegedly used his mother’s handgun in the shooting, according to Sheriff McNeil.

“Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons,” the sheriff said.

McNeil said the shooter was “deeply embedded” in the sheriff department’s community and that his mother, a deputy, has been with the department for 18 years.

Ikner is believed to be a student at Florida State, Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower added.

The shooting began around 11:50 a.m. local time, authorities told members of the media on Thursday.

Trumbower, the FSU police chief, said responding officers “neutralized” Ikner at the scene and took him into custody.

The “shooter did not comply with officers and was shot,” authorities announced at the press conference Thursday.

Police said Ikner was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Five victims were still receiving treatment Thursday afternoon, according to authorities. The two victims who died at the scene were not students, according to Trumbower.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital said earlier Thursday it had been “actively receiving and caring for patients related to an incident that has occurred at Florida State University,” asking for “patience and compassion during this difficult time.” 

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office is also investigating the shooting, while Gov. Ron DeSantis said “prayers are with our FSU family” in a post on social media. President Donald Trump told reporters he was “fully briefed” on the shooting and called it a “horrible thing.”

FSU was previously the site of a shooting in 2014, when a gunman opened fire in a university library and wounded three students. Police ultimately shot the gunman dead.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.