FSU taking pictures: 2 lifeless, a number of others injured taking pictures at Florida State College; suspect is stepson of native sheriff’s deputy

The stepson of an area sheriff’s deputy allegedly opened hearth close to the Scholar Union at Florida State College in Tallahassee on Thursday, killing two individuals and injuring six others, authorities mentioned.

The suspect — 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a present FSU pupil — was shot by responders and has been hospitalized, police mentioned. He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening accidents, a number of legislation enforcement officers advised ABC Information.

Ikner is the stepson of a present Leon County sheriff’s deputy, in accordance with Sheriff Walter McNeil. He had entry to certainly one of his mom’s private weapons, which was one of many weapons discovered on the scene, the sheriff mentioned. It appeared Ikner had a handgun and a shotgun with him, police mentioned.

MORE | Alleged Florida State College gunman is son of native sheriff’s deputy, police say

The suspect’s mom has been a deputy with the division for greater than 18 years and “her service to this neighborhood has been distinctive,” McNeil mentioned.

The suspect was additionally a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Workplace’s Youth Advisory Council, McNeil mentioned.

He was “engaged in plenty of coaching packages that we’ve,” the sheriff mentioned, including, “Not a shock to us that he had entry to weapons.”

The campus has been secured, police mentioned.

Police haven’t recognized the 2 individuals killed however mentioned they weren’t college students.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare mentioned it is obtained six sufferers, all in truthful situation.

Sophomore Paula Maldonado advised ABC Information she was in school close to the Scholar Union when she heard what seemed like yelling exterior.

“Proper after, the energetic menace alarm went off,” she mentioned. “Everybody in my class shortly turned off the lights, put desks to dam off the door and hid by the entrance of the classroom.”

“We had been quiet and a few had been whispering,” Maldonado mentioned. “Some had been additionally crying and serving to one another. Like a pupil subsequent to me advised me to place my backpack in entrance of me to guard myself.”

“A cop got here inside and I assumed it was the shooter, so it was very scary. However after a few minutes one other cop got here again in and advised us to go exterior with our arms up, Maldonado mentioned.

Scholar Daniella Streety advised ABC Information she was within the constructing throughout the road from the Scholar Union when alert sirens began blaring, and individuals who had been standing exterior bumped into her constructing.

College students then fled from the Scholar Union as legislation enforcement flooded the scene, she mentioned.

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was killed within the Parkland highschool taking pictures in South Florida in 2018, mentioned a few of Jaime’s classmates now attend FSU.

“Extremely, a few of them had been simply part of their 2nd faculty taking pictures and a few had been within the pupil union at the moment,” Guttenberg, who has turn out to be a gun reform supporter, wrote on social media. “As a father, all I ever needed after the Parkland taking pictures was to assist our youngsters be secure. Sadly, due to the many individuals who refuse to do the precise issues about lowering gun violence, I’m not stunned by what occurred at the moment.”

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the taking pictures, in accordance with White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned, “My coronary heart breaks for the scholars, their households, and school at Florida State College. There isn’t a place in American society for violence. Our whole nation is praying for the victims and their households.”

FSU mentioned courses are canceled by Friday.

To date in 2025, there have been 81 mass shootings as of April 17, together with this newest one in Florida.

That is Florida’s sixth mass taking pictures to this point this 12 months.

The Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass taking pictures as one with 4 or extra individuals injured or killed – not together with the perpetrator – counted 503 mass shootings in 2024, 659 mass shootings in 2023, 644 in 2022 and 689 in 2021.

This time final 12 months, there have been 117 shootings.

ABC Information’ Sony Salzman and Luke Barr contributed to this report.

ABC Information’ Luke Barr contributed to this report.