More details about Florida State University shooting suspect Phoenix Ikner are emerging as law enforcement agencies are trying to bring him the trigger for the 20-year-old student to fire at his school, killing two people and injuring six people.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Ikner was shot and injured Thursday afternoon after refusing to comply with the order. Police also said his mother was a sheriff's deputy in the Leon County Sheriff's Office, who they believed Ikner shot the victim with her mother's former service pistol, which she has been for personal use after the troops upgraded it to a new weapon.
In the months leading up to the shooting, Ikner cited articles about the school’s anti-Trump protests in the FSU student newspaper and was identified as a major in political science.
“These people are usually interesting, usually not for good reason. I think it's too late, he's [Trump] Already inaugurated on January 20, you can't do a lot unless you completely revolt, and I don't think anyone wants that.
FSU shooter confirms that kills people using sheriff's deputy mom's weapon: police
Phoenix Ikner, 20, opened fire at Florida State University in Tallahassee on Thursday, police said. (Phoenix Ikner/Instagram)
The article was later updated to say: “Earlier versions of this article include a sentence from the Gunners during the April 17 FSU shooting and were removed when our editors decided to maintain ethical news standards and avoid amplifying individuals' voices to violent individuals.”
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil also said Ikner “has been immersed in the Leon County Sheriff’s office family and has worked on many of the training programs we conduct,” according to the Associated Press. “So it’s not surprising for us that he can use weapons.”
He continued that Ikner is a long-time member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Sheriff’s Office.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office said on its website that its Youth Advisory Board “provides young people in Leon County with an active role in addressing youth issues.”
The website said: “YAC’s commitment is to advise the sheriff, engage with teenagers in Leon County, inform them of existing opportunities and listen to the steps the sheriff’s office can take to improve its youth-oriented efforts, noting that the group’s mission is to identify and discuss “young people face in our county…”.
Florida State University Shooting Suspect: Who is Phoenix?
A memorial for victims of the shooting at Florida State University was held on April 17. (Pilar Arias of Fox News Digital)
Revell said in a statement Thursday night that five people injured in the mass shooting were shot and the sixth was injured while trying to escape. A spokesman for Tallahassee Memorial Health Care said they are all in fairness.
As of Thursday night, Ikner had suffered “severe but lifeless injuries” in the hospital, Ever said.
Aidan Stickney, 21, who studies business management, told the Associated Press that he ran at night during class Thursday when he said he saw another man driving out of a car with a shotgun and wearing a white polo shirt.
Stickney said the gun was stuck and the shooter rushed back to his car, appeared with his pistol and opened fire at a woman. Stickney ran away and warned others to call 911.
He said: “I'm lucky today. I did. I really, did.”
Photo: Florida State University Shooting Shocks Campus
Law enforcement officers worked at Florida State University after the shooting Thursday, April 17. (Alicia Devine/US Today Network via Reuters via IMAGN image)
Jessica Ikner, the suspect's mother, served as an official for more than 18 years and authorities said she did “huge work” in her position.
“She has served this community very well,” McNeill said in a press conference. “Unfortunately, her son can use one of her weapons, which is one of the weapons found on the scene. We are continuing to investigate how to use the weapon.”
Authorities believe that the two people killed were not FSU students and they believe the suspect acted alone.
FSU canceled all classes on Friday and said the sporting event in Tallahassee was cancelled throughout the weekend.
Vacant personnel watched police respond to the shooting at FSU. (Alicia Devine/US Today Network via Reuters via IMAGN image)
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University President Richard McCullough issued a statement about X, calling Thursday's shooting “a tragic and meaningless act of violence.”
Rachel Wolf, Preston Mizell, David Spunt, Andrea Margolis, Ashley Papa, Pilar Arias and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
