2 confirmed useless and 6 others wounded; shooter in custody

Two folks had been killed and a minimum of six others had been wounded on Thursday in a mass taking pictures at Florida State College in Tallahassee, Fla., officers stated. The six victims are being handled at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, considered one of whom is in important situation. The 2 deceased victims weren’t college college students or regulation enforcement.

“This can be a tragic day for Florida State College,” FSU President Richard McCullough stated. “We’re completely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier immediately.”

The shooter was recognized as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old whose mom is a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy who has been there for over 18 years. Authorities stated a former service weapon that belonged to his mom was recovered on the scene. She was allowed to buy her former service weapon for private use, officers stated.

Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil stated Ikner was a longstanding member of the Sheriff’s Workplace Youth Advisory Council who was “engaged in a lot of coaching packages.” McNeil stated it wasn’t a shock that the shooter had entry to weapons having been “steep” within the Leon County Sheriff’s Workplace household.

Tallahassee Police Division Chief Lawrence E. Revell stated the gunman “didn’t adjust to instructions and was shot” and can be receiving medical consideration. The shooter additionally “invoked his proper to not communicate to us,” Revell added. Police consider Ikner can be an FSU scholar who acted alone.

Chatting with reporters within the Oval Workplace on Thursday, President Trump stated the taking pictures was “a disgrace,” however that he would not advocate for any new gun laws. “The gun doesn’t do the taking pictures, the folks do,” Trump stated, including that he was a “large advocate” of the Second Modification and the best to bear arms.

Earlier within the day Trump stated he had been “totally briefed” on the taking pictures. “It’s a disgrace, a horrible factor,” Trump stated. “It’s horrible that issues like this happen.”

Authorities stated the taking pictures unfolded simply earlier than midday on Thursday when the gunman shot people across the scholar union constructing.

The sprawling campus was positioned on lockdown for a number of hours earlier than the college introduced that regulation enforcement had “neutralized the menace.”

In a publish on X, the Tallahassee Police stated that the campus had been secured, however that a number of regulation enforcement companies would stay on the scene. The FBI in Tallahassee stated its brokers had been aiding native regulation enforcement in its investigation.

Shortly after midday, the college issued an alert that stated an lively shooter was reported within the space of the scholar union, asking college students to shelter in place.

“Lock and steer clear of all doorways and home windows and be ready to take further protecting measures,” the alert learn.

The college despatched out subsequent alerts telling college students to proceed to shelter in place.

“Legislation enforcement is actively clearing rooms on the principle campus,” one of many alerts learn. “Legislation enforcement officers will use the protected phrase SEMINOLE to verify it’s protected to open the door. Proceed to shelter in place till regulation enforcement contacts you.”

Hours later, FSU issued an alert saying that “regulation enforcement has neutralized the menace.” College students had been suggested to keep away from quite a few buildings close to the scholar union as they had been “nonetheless thought-about an lively crime scene.”

All courses and college occasions had been canceled by Friday. Residence athletic occasions by Sunday had been canceled. Close by Florida A&M College additionally canceled courses for the day.

Alarms might be heard blaring throughout FSU’s campus as college students had been escorted from the library and different buildings, based on the Related Press.

“Tons of of scholars streamed away from the course of the scholar union,” the AP stated. “College students had been glued to their telephones, some visibly emotional.”

In a publish on X, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated state regulation enforcement was “actively responding” to the taking pictures.

“Our prayers are with our FSU household,” DeSantis stated.

Florida Lawyer Common James Uthmeier stated his workplace was “responding to the lively shooter scenario on FSU’s campus” and would “present updates as they develop into obtainable.”

“It’s too early to know the extent of the violence, however early reviews are very disturbing,” Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., stated in a press release. “Shelter in place. Keep Secure. Thanks to our courageous first responders for responding to the scenario.”

In line with its workplace of admissions, Florida State has a complete enrollment of greater than 43,000 college students, together with greater than 32,000 undergraduates and 11,000 graduate college students.

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed within the mass taking pictures at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, stated that a few of Jaime’s surviving classmates now attend FSU.

“Extremely, a few of them had been simply part of their 2nd college taking pictures and a few had been within the scholar union immediately,” Guttenberg wrote in a publish on X. “As a father, all I ever needed after the Parkland taking pictures was to assist our kids be protected. Sadly, due to the many individuals who refuse to do the best issues about lowering gun violence, I’m not stunned by what occurred immediately.”