At least two people were killed and six others injured Thursday in a shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, according to campus police chief Jason Trumbower, who spoke to the press during a news conference.
Authorities identified the alleged shooter as Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, who was also injured, officials said during a news conference Thursday.
The alleged gunman “did not comply with orders” from law enforcement at Florida State University before being shot, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.
Revell stated he does not believe the suspect fired at officers.
Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said the attacker was shot and injured by responding officers after disobeying orders.
Credit: Wilfredo Lee | AP
The shooting suspect is also hospitalized.
Revell said the gunman appeared to have acted alone. He was armed with a handgun and a shotgun when he was stopped, but it was unclear whether the shotgun was used in the attack.
The shooting at the student union building was reported shortly before noon, and the university quickly issued a lockdown alert.
The alert was lifted at 3:20 p.m. local time, but students were advised to avoid the student union and eight other buildings, which the university said remained an active crime scene.
Officers began evacuating academic buildings shortly after the lockdown alert was issued.
Local and state police were on campus escorting students from buildings near the student union.
University officials canceled all classes, events, and commercial activities for the rest of the week as the shooting investigation continues.
Regarding one of the three weapons found at the scene, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence E. Revell said it was one his mother had previously used in her work as a sheriff’s deputy, and that she had purchased it when authorities replaced her issued equipment.
McNeil described the shooter’s mother as a deputy who has provided “exceptional” service to the community for over 18 years.
Regarding the shooting, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “it’s a disgrace and it’s horrible that this kind of thing happens.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, warned in a post on X that authorities were “actively” responding to the situation and that he was praying for the victims.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Pérez called the incident “terrifying and every parent’s worst nightmare.”
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