2 Dead, Suspect The Son Of Deputy: FL State University Mass Shooting

Updated: Thursday, 4:58 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Two people were killed and six hospitalized with injuries, including the accused gunman, in a mass shooting Thursday at Florida State University, police said during a news conference.

The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and son of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy, was also injured, authorities said.

The two killed in the shooting weren’t students, though they haven't been identified.

Ikner, a member of the LCSO Youth Advisory Council, opened fire around 11:50 a.m. near the Student Union, according to police. He had access to a gun previously used by his mother.

A handgun was found on the suspect police took into custody, CNN said. Police also found a shotgun in the student union and another gun in the suspect’s car.

Officials haven’t confirmed if there was more than one shooter on campus.

President Donald Trump told reporters he has been "fully briefed" on the active shooter at Florida State University.

“I guess it’s an active shooter, fully briefed as to where we are right now," Trump said. "It’s a shame. Horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place, and we’ll have more to say about it later.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X, "Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding."

Students and staff were told to shelter in place after reports of an active shooter on campus.

Police responded to reports of a shooter at the university’s Student Union, according to an alert from the university.

An employee told the Tallahassee Democrat that the Bellamy Building was on lockdown and that she heard gunfire inside the building.

Those at the university who need assistance should call 911 or the Florida State University Police Department at 850-644-1234, FSU said.

Information and updates are also available online here or by calling 850-644-INFO.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus midday Thursday after the university issued an active shooter alert near the student union.

Hundreds of students streamed away from the direction of the student union. Students were glued to their phones, some visibly emotional.

Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter. Sirmans said law enforcement officers escorted him and other students out of the library with their hands over their heads.

Chris Pento told WCTV in Tallahassee that he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots.

“It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told the TV station.

They packed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

In 2014, the main library was the site of a shooting that wounded three people. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

The university canceled all classes and events for Thursday. It also canceled home athletic events through Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.