Police in Florida have arrested Phoenix Ikner for the mass shooting that took place earlier today, April 17 2024 at Florida State University. According to police reports Phoenix Ikner would arm himself with one of his mother’s weapons. Phoenix mother is a Deputy with Leon County. Phoenix would go to the FSU campus where he would open fire killing two people and injuring six more before being shot by police.
Phoenix Ikner remains in hospital under heavy police guard and will face an assortment of charges when he is released.
Phoenix Ikner News
The suspect in the mass shooting at Florida State University on Thursday, April 17 has been identified.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the suspected shooter is 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a deputy who has been with the department for 18 years. McNeil did not name the deputy but the agency’s website shows a deputy named Jessica Ikner.
“Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene,” McNeil said.
According to McNeil, Ikner was “embedded” in the law enforcement community and was a member of the sheriff’s office’s youth council. “He was engaged in a number of training programs that we have. So it’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons,” the sheriff said, calling the incident “tragic.”
At least two people died and six other innocent people were hospitalized as a result of the shooting near the campus’ student union, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower told reporters. Trumbower said the shooting was reported to campus police at 11:50 a.m. and that the suspect was “apprehended immediately.”
The two people who died were not students at FSU and the suspect was also hospitalized, according to Trumbower. Law enforcement said they believe Ikner is a student at the school.
The shooter was found with a handgun on them, and a shotgun was found in the student union building, CNN, reported, citing a law enforcement official. Another gun was found in the individual’s car, the outlet reported.
The Tallahassee Police Department is taking the lead in the investigation, officials said at the press conference.
FSU has canceled all classes for the rest of the week.
https://people.com/florida-state-shooting-suspect-phoenix-ikner-11717331
Phoenix Ikner More News
In the wake of the deadly shooting at Florida State University on Thursday, a portrait of the alleged gunman — the son of a local sheriff’s deputy — has emerged.
At least two people were killed and six others were injured when shots rang out near the Tallahassee institution’s Student Union, officials said during a press conference.
First responders shot the suspect on campus and he has since been hospitalized, officials said. He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries, multiple law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The suspect was identified during the press conference as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
Sheriff Walter McNeil said Phoenix had access to one of his mother’s personal weapons, which was one of the weapons found at the scene. He had a handgun and a shotgun with him at the time of the shooting, officials said.
Jessica Ikner has been a deputy with the department for more than 18 years and “her service to this community has been exceptional,” McNeil said.
McNeil added that the 20-year-old suspect was also a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Advisory Council.
Pheonix had been “steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” McNeil said, adding, “It’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons,” he added.
An investigation into the motive of the deadly shooting is ongoing.
Police said during the press conference that law enforcement’s response to the shooting was “massive” and “very quick.”
We are working multiple crime scenes, and there are potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses,” Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police said.
Revell also said the suspect did not comply with commands before being shot by responding officers. “I do not believe he fired at officers,” Revell said.