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Tragedy struck the campus of Florida State University Thursday afternoon when a 20-year-old student opened fire near the student union, killing two people and injuring at least five others, law enforcement officials confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Phoenix Ikner, is an FSU student and the son of a Leon County deputy sheriff. Authorities said he used a handgun previously issued to his mother as a service weapon, now privately owned, and was also armed with a shotgun. He was shot by police and taken into custody before being transported to a local hospital.
None of the fatalities were FSU students, and officials have yet to release the victims’ names. The injured are currently being treated for gunshot wounds at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Hospital, where they are reported to be in fair condition.
Timeline and Law Enforcement Response
The university issued a campus-wide alert at 12:01 p.m., warning students to seek shelter. Law enforcement responded to the student union, where the suspect had opened fire. The campus was declared secure just after 3:15 p.m., but multiple buildings remain active crime scenes.
“Law enforcement has neutralized the threat,” FSU tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Federal and state agencies — including the FBI, ATF, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement — are assisting in the ongoing investigation.
Political and National Reactions
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered his condolences, tweeting, “Our prayers are with our FSU family.”
President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the shooting, made brief remarks from the White House:
“It’s a shame. It’s a horrible thing. Horrible thing… The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.”
When asked about revisiting gun laws, Trump reaffirmed his support for the Second Amendment but acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
FSU History and Broader Gun Violence Context
This isn’t the first time violence has struck the FSU campus. In 2014, three students were shot in the library before the gunman — a former student — was fatally shot by police.
Thursday’s shooting marks the 80th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents where four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
In 2024, there were 502 mass shootings, averaging nearly 10 per week.
Classes Canceled and Campus Impact
FSU has canceled classes and all campus events through Friday. The university urged students and staff to avoid the student union and nearby buildings, and counseling services have been made available.
