Police launch timeline of suspect’s actions in campus rampage

Two folks have been killed and at the least six others have been wounded on Thursday in a mass taking pictures at Florida State College in Tallahassee, Fla., officers stated.

“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.”

One of many deceased victims was recognized by household as Robert Morales, a 57-year-old college worker.

The wounded victims have been taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare hospital in steady situation, hospital officers stated. Three required surgical procedure; two have been anticipated to be discharged Friday. All have been anticipated to make full recoveries.

The shooter was recognized by police as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old whose stepmother is a Leon County sheriff’s deputy who has labored with the division for over 18 years. Authorities stated a former service weapon that belonged to her was recovered on the scene.

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

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

Timeline of occasions

The Tallahassee Police Division later launched a timeline of the incident because it unfolded:

• At roughly 11 a.m. — The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, arrives at an FSU parking storage. He stays within the space for an hour transferring out and in of the automobile.

• At 11:51 a.m. — Ikner leaves the parking storage.

• Between 11:56 and 11:57 a.m. — The primary shot is fired. Ikner walks out and in of buildings and inexperienced areas, firing a handgun.

• By 11:58 a.m. — A number of 911 calls report a male actively taking pictures on campus, simultaneous to a police response by close by officers.

• 12 p.m. — The suspect is shot by responding officers and brought into custody.

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

In a put up on X, Tallahassee police stated that the campus had been secured however that a number of legislation enforcement companies would stay on the scene. The FBI in Jacksonville stated its brokers have been aiding native legislation enforcement in its investigation.

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

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

Alarms could possibly be heard blaring throughout FSU’s campus as college students have been escorted from the library and different buildings.

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

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

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

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

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 would not do the taking pictures, the folks do,” Trump stated, including that he was a “large advocate” of the Second Modification and the fitting to bear arms.

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

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

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

In accordance with its workplace of admissions, Florida State has a complete enrollment of greater than 44,000 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 Faculty in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, stated that a few of Jaime’s surviving classmates now attend FSU.

“Extremely, a few of them have been simply part of their 2nd college taking pictures and a few have been within the scholar union right this moment,” Guttenberg wrote in a put up on X. “As a father, all I ever wished after the Parkland taking pictures was to assist our kids be protected. Sadly, due to the many individuals who refuse to do the fitting issues about decreasing gun violence, I’m not shocked by what occurred right this moment.”