On April 17, 2025, Tallahassee, FSU was the site of a random mass shooting that killed two and injured six. The attack started about the time of noon near the Student Union Building and led to an immediate campus lockdown.
The suspected gunman, 20-year-old FSU political science student Phoenix Ikner, was taken into custody after police shot him when he failed to follow commands. Ikner is hospitalized and has refused to cooperate with detectives. Three weapons were found at the scene, including a handgun that had been a service gun of Ikner's mother, a veteran deputy with the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
The deceased victims were not university affiliates, and the injured comprised one in critical condition and five in serious condition. The motive for the attack is still under investigation.
Following the tragedy, FSU suspended all classes and campus activities up to April 19. The local police and the FBI continue to investigate the incident, urging anyone with relevant information or the press to reach out to them.
The country and FSU community mourn the loss of life and pray for the survival of the injured as they demand answers after this awful act of violence.
