A shooting happened on Thursday at Florida State University in Tallahassee, USA, where two people lost their lives and at least six others were injured. The person behind the shooting, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, was shot by the police and taken into custody. He is the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner and is said to have used her gun during the incident.

The shooting has deeply unsettled students and staff at the university, leaving many in a state of fear and confusion. Those who witnessed it first-hand said they feel “very, very lucky” to have made it out safely. The shooting took place near the university’s student union. According to AP, gunfire broke out around 11:20 am ET, prompting some students and parents to rush into a nearby bowling alley to hide, while others packed into an elevator to stay safe. Many students ran from the area in panic.

Soon after, emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks, and police patrol cars, arrived on campus. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said the suspect was shot and injured by officers after he refused to follow their commands.

After nearly three hours of tense moments on campus, the lockdown at Florida State University was lifted around 3 pm EDT. Normal movement resumed, and students and staff were allowed to go about their activities. However, authorities urged everyone to stay away from the area where the shooting took place, as it remained sealed off with crime scene tape for investigation. Police and emergency crews continued to secure the scene while gathering evidence.

All classes and events at Florida State University have been cancelled through Friday, while sports events have been called off until Sunday. According to FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower, the two people who died in the shooting were not students of the university.

He also stated that six people were injured and are currently being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. One of the injured people is reported to be in critical condition.

 About the suspect

The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, is not just the son of Leon County sheriff’s deputy Jessica Ikner; he was also part of the sheriff’s office’s youth advisory council, as shared by Sheriff Walt McNeil. He is believed to be a student at Florida State University and reportedly used his mother’s old service weapon in the shooting.

“He had been involved in several training programs with the sheriff’s office, so it’s not surprising that he had access to weapons,” McNeil told AP. Phoenix is currently in the hospital being treated for his injuries.

This isn’t the first time a shooting has happened at FSU. In 2014, three people were shot near the Strozier Library on campus. The gunman, 31-year-old Myron May, was shot and killed by police. One student, Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed, was hit three times, one bullet damaged his spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down. Another student was grazed, and a library worker named Nathan Scott was shot in the leg.

NBC News also stated that Phoenix Ikner had shared white supremacist views before and was kicked out of a political club, according to the club's president, Reid Seybold.

 

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