Florida: Chaos erupted at the Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday afternoon after a mass shooting left two people dead and five others hospitalized. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner—a student at the university—was later shot and wounded by local law enforcement.
The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of the campus, with students ordered to shelter in place as police and first responders flooded the area.
Shooter Was Son of Deputy Sheriff
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner is the son of a longtime, “exceptional” member of his staff. The weapon used in the attack was reportedly a service gun previously issued to his mother.
“He had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the firearms found at the scene,” McNeil said. Ikner had also participated in training programs conducted by the Sheriff’s Office, giving him exposure to law enforcement practices and weapon handling.
Scenes of Panic on Campus
Eyewitness accounts painted a picture of terror and confusion. One student, Wayne, told local station WCTV: “Everyone just started running out of the student union. About a minute later, we heard about eight to ten gunshots.”
Others described ducking for cover and barricading themselves using whatever they could find. Student Sam Swartz said he and seven others used trash cans and plywood to block a hallway.
“I remember learning to make them take time,” Swartz said, referring to the defensive tactic in mass shootings.
Victims, Not Students; Shooter Hospitalized
Authorities confirmed that the two individuals who lost their lives were not students, but did not release their identities. The injured were rushed to the hospital. The condition of Ikner, who was shot during his capture, remains unknown.
University Reacts, Classes Cancelled
FSU President Richard McCullough called the day “tragic” and announced the cancellation of all classes. He urged non-residential students to leave the campus.
“We’re absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today,” he said.
Viral video of person sipping coffee, strolling past victims
A video has gone viral, showing an individual who was sipping a Starbucks latte during a shooting and filming the victims instead of helping them.
Watch the video here:
The woman who was walked by and filmed by an individual who was sipping a Starbucks latte during a sh**ting at Florida State University appears to be alive.
Thank goodness.
Footage is going viral of a person sipping coffee as they filmed a victim of the FSU sh**ting.
According… pic.twitter.com/BwLr9HUG7S
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 17, 2025
Spotlight on Gun Laws
The shooting adds to a growing list of mass shootings across the United States this year—at least 81 so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive. President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy, calling it “a horrible thing” but reiterated his support for the Second Amendment.
“These things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting — the people do,” he stated.
Despite recurring tragedies, gun law reform remains a divisive issue in the U.S., where the right to bear arms is constitutionally protected.
