FSU shooter used deputy mom’s former service weapon to kill 2, injure 6: Live updates

FSU President Richard McCullough issued a statement in the wake of the tragedy that left two dead and six injured.

“We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost. We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting,” he wrote on Thursday evening on X.

You can read his full message here.

All six patients injured during the shooting are in fair condition, the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital told the Associated Press.

The news comes after the hospital said one individual was in critical condition.

The identities of the victims has not been released. But police said earlier Thursday that the two individuals killed in the shooting were not students.

The suspected shooter is also currently receiving medical care; his condition is not currently known.

The father of a Parkland victim says his late daughter’s friends attend FSU.

Fred Guttenberg’s daughter Jaime was killed during the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Now, her classmates have gone on to face a second school shooting in a seven-year span.

“America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU,” Guttenberg said.

“Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student union today,” he continued in a post on X. “As a father, all I ever wanted after the Parkland shooting was to help our children be safe. Sadly, because of the many people who refuse to do the right things about reducing gun violence, I am not surprised by what happened today.”

Phoenix Ikner, 20-year-old suspect, is now in police custody; he is a student at FSU majoring in political science.

Ikner was also a long-standing member of the LCSO youth advisory committee, McNeil said, and was “steeped” in the “family” of the sheriff’s office.

He added that it was “not a surprise” that Ikner had access to firearms, given his mother’s job.

According to online records, Ikner lives in Tallahassee, and registered as a Republican in 2022. He last voted in November 2024, according to the records. Earlier this year he was interviewed by FSU News about anti-Trump protests taking place on the campus.

“I think it’s a little too late, he’s [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on January 20 and there’s not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that,” he told the outlet at the time.

“My heart breaks for Florida State University,” Gabby Giffords said on X. “It’s horrifying that students who survived the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seven years ago just lived through another. The constant gun violence must stop.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is praying for the entire Florida State community, he said in a video on X. The suspect “must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law,” the governor added.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected by the shooting at Florida State University,” Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said in an X post. “Our places of learning should never be the target of violence—this should not be the reality on our campuses.”

Florida State Rep. Michele K. Rayner issued a statement in the wake of the shooting. “As an alumna of Florida State University and a current member of the Florida Legislature, I am heartbroken and deeply troubled by the tragic events that unfolded on FSU’s campus,” Rayner said.

“Our schools, colleges, and universities must be sanctuaries of safety and learning—not places marked by fear and violence. Once we have all the facts, we must respond with urgency and resolve to ensure that no community in Florida has to endure a tragedy like this again,” the state representative added.

Speaking at the press conference, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said that Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old suspected shooter, was involved in the law enforcement community. He was involved in the sheriff’s office’s Youth Advisory Council.

“This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law enforcement perspective,” McNeil said. “But I will tell you this, we will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation.”

Two people are dead and six others were taken to hospital in serious condition following after a 20-year-old student and son of a cop opened fire at Florida State University’s campus.

Phoenix Ikner was taken into custody following the brutal attack, which caused the campus in Tallahassee to be locked down on Thursday. FSU officials alerted students to reports of an active shooter and students were warned to shelter in place.

At a press conference Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil revealed that Ikner was the son of Leon County deputy Jessica Ikner, and had used a weapon owned by his mother to carry out the shooting.

Mike Bedigan has the latest.

A reporter asked President Donald Trump about whether he hopes to see change with gun legislation.

“I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do,” the president said.

“I will tell you that it’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now,” he added, noting he’ll say more later when he knows more information.

“As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment,” Trump continued.

Two people were killed and five victims and the suspected shooter were taken to the hospital, police said.

Police are not releasing information about the victims at this point.

The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to police, authorities said. The suspect had a shotgun in his possession, but it’s not clear if it was used.