On April 17, 2025, Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, endured a mass shooting. 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the perpetrator, began shooting around lunchtime near the student union building. According to the BBC, “Police responded to an active shooter call at around midday local time, the university said. An alert was issued warning students and those on campus to ‘seek shelter and await further instructions.’”
The suspect wounded six people and killed two. None of those killed were students, and the identities of the injured students have not been revealed. Robert Morales is one of the deceased victims, talked about in an article by Kyla A Stanford, a writer for the Tallahassee Democrat, “The 57-year-old husband, father, coach, and cook was known for his heart of service and kindness to those who had the pleasure of encountering him.” The other deceased is Tiru Chabba, a 48-year-old husband and father of two children. He was the regional Vice President for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, working to serve lunch and dinner to college campuses. This tragedy has cut two men’s lives short, but they will always be remembered by those who knew them. Florida State University student Blake Leanord informed CBS that he heard around 12 shots fired. “In my head, I thought it was construction at first, until I looked behind me and saw people running from the union towards my direction, and then I heard another 12 or 15 shots go off, so I started running away from there too.”
The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, was shot in the face by police during the incident and taken into custody. He spent multiple weeks in the hospital, undergoing numerous surgeries. His motives for this shooting are still unknown. Officials say he carried a handgun that used to be Sheriff Deputy Jessica Ikner’s service weapon, who is his stepmother. According to BBC News, “Florida court documents indicate that the suspect has a different biological mother and was largely raised by his father and stepmother.” Jessica Ikner kept her old service weapon after their police force upgraded the weapons, leaving it at her house. This allowed easy access for Phoenix Ikner.
On May 12, Phoenix Ikner appeared in court after being discharged from the hospital. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. He was denied a bond during his court case. Court documents have given us some more information on the perpetrator’s past. According to FOX 13 News, “He had just transferred to FSU from Tallahassee State College and enrolled as a political science major. He also spent time training with law enforcement and serving on a sheriff’s advisory council in the years prior to the shooting.” It was also known that he was on multiple medications to combat ADHD and growth hormone disorder. He is now being held in Wakulla County jail.
