Florida State Mourns Victims of Deadly Campus Shooting/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Students at Florida State University are returning to retrieve belongings and attend vigils after a deadly campus shooting. Two men were killed and six others injured. The suspect, identified as a student and son of a sheriff’s deputy, remains hospitalized.
Florida State University Shooting Aftermath – Quick Look
- Two men were killed and six others injured in a shooting near FSU’s student union Thursday.
- Students returned Friday to gather belongings and attend planned memorial vigils.
- The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, was shot by police and remains hospitalized.
- Authorities say Ikner used his mother’s former service weapon.
- The motive remains unclear, but officials confirmed he is a Florida State student.
- President Trump addressed the tragedy, ruling out new gun laws.
- Classes are canceled for the week, and weekend sports events were postponed.
Students Return to Campus, Mourn Victims After Florida State University Shooting
Deep Looks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A day after a gunman opened fire near the student union at Florida State University, students began returning Friday to retrieve their belongings—left behind as they fled or barricaded themselves during the chaos. Many paused at makeshift memorials as the campus began to reckon with the deadly shooting that claimed two lives and wounded at least six others.
Authorities identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old Florida State student and son of a long-serving sheriff’s deputy. Police said he used his mother’s former service handgun during the attack, which unfolded just after noon Thursday.
Ikner was shot and injured by Tallahassee police after reportedly refusing to comply with commands. He is recovering in a local hospital and remains in serious but non-life-threatening condition.
A Campus Gripped by Fear
Students described scenes of panic, confusion, and desperation as alarms blared and emergency alerts were issued. “Everyone was crying and just panicking,” said Carolina Sena, a 21-year-old student who sheltered in the basement of the student union. “We tried to barricade ourselves in a little corner.”
Across campus, personal items like backpacks, laptops, and shoes were abandoned in classrooms and study areas as students fled. On Friday, university officials allowed them to retrieve belongings while grief counselors were available.
Gunfire Near the Student Union
The gunman began shooting just outside the student union around lunchtime. Police Chief Lawrence Revell said two male victims—neither of whom were students—were killed. Five others were struck by gunfire, and one person was injured while fleeing.
Aidan Stickney, a 21-year-old student, said he witnessed the suspect’s weapon jam before Ikner returned to his car to retrieve a handgun. “I got lucky today. I really did,” he said.
Police have found no evidence the shotgun was fired, despite reports it was brandished.
Shooter Linked to Law Enforcement Youth Programs
Ikner had participated in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office youth advisory council, and authorities said he had access to weapons due to his close relationship with law enforcement. Sheriff Walt McNeil said the shooter’s mother, a longtime deputy, had kept the weapon legally after the department upgraded its service pistols.
“He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” McNeil said.
Community Response and Presidential Reaction
The university, home to more than 44,000 students, canceled classes through the weekend and postponed athletic events. Students planned to hold vigils on Friday to honor the victims and begin healing.
President Donald Trump called the incident “a horrible thing,” but reiterated his opposition to new gun control legislation, stating, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.”
University President Richard McCullough expressed sorrow over the tragedy. “Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy,” he said in a statement.
Tragic Echo of Past Violence
The shooting marked the second significant act of violence on the Florida State campus in just over a decade. In 2014, a gunman opened fire in the university’s main library, wounding three people before police shot and killed him.
For students like Holden Mendez, who helped calm others during Thursday’s lockdown, the tragedy will not be soon forgotten. “There was a lot of fear, a lot of misinformation,” he said. “But we came together and stayed strong.”
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