Florida State University shooting suspect: Who is Phoenix Ikner?
COVERAGE OF THE TRAGEDY IN TALLAHASSEE. TWO MEN ARE DEAD. SIX OTHER PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED AFTER A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY YESTERDAY. CALEB CALIFANO FROM OUR SISTER STATION IS JOINING US LIVE FROM THE FSU CAMPUS IN TALLAHASSEE. AND CALEB, THIS MORNING, MORE INFORMATION IS COMING TO LIGHT ABOUT THE ACCUSED SHOOTER’S PAST. THAT IS CORRECT. WELL, AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT AS 20 YEAR OLD PHOENIX EICHNER. HE’S BELIEVED TO BE A STUDENT HERE AT FSU. NOW, ACCORDING TO THE LEON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THEY CONFIRM HE IS THE SON OF A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE OFFICE FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS WHEN EICHNER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, HE WAS CARRYING A HANDGUN THAT USED TO BE IN THE SERVICE, USED TO BE A SERVICE WEAPON FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. SHERIFF SAID EICHNER’S MOTHER HAD PURCHASED HER FORMER SERVICE WEAPONS, SO THEY’RE NOW CONSIDERED HER PERSONAL PROPERTY. THEY SAY HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SHERIFF’S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. SO HE HAS BEEN STEEP IN THE LEON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. FAMILY ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. SO IT’S NOT A SURPRISE TO US THAT HE HAD ACCESS TO WEAPONS. NOW. BEFORE ATTENDING FSU, EICHNER WAS ENROLLED AT TALLAHASSEE STATE COLLEGE FOR TWO YEARS. CLASSMATES SAY HE WAS KICKED OUT OF A POLITICAL DISCUSSION GROUP BECAUSE BECAUSE HIS VIEWS ALIGN WITH WHITE SUPREMACY. NOW, THIS. NOW, THIS MORNING. EICHNER DOES REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS INJURED WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OPENED FIRE TO END THE SHOOTING. WE’RE TOLD HE’S NOT TALKING TO AUTHORITIES RIGHT NOW, SO HIS MOTIVE IS UNKNOWN. FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE IN TALLAHASSEE. CALEB CALIFANO, WESH TWO NEWS. CALEB, BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WE’RE FOLLOWING SOME REPORTS SHOWING THE SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IS ACTUALLY THE ACCUSED. SHOOTER’S STEPMOTHER. THAT IS CORRECT. ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM CNN. COURT RECORDS IDENTIFIED HIS BIOLOGICAL MOTHER AS A DIFFERENT WOMAN. SHE’S ACCUSED OF VIOLATING A CUSTODY CUSTODY AGREEMENT WHEN HE WAS JUST TEN YEARS OLD. IT’S UNCLEAR IF S
Florida State University shooting suspect: Who is Phoenix Ikner?
Updated: 9:25 AM EDT Apr 18, 2025
A 20-year-old student has been accused of being the gunman behind the Florida State University shooting that left two people dead and six others injured, according to police.Related: 2 dead, 6 injured at Florida State University shootingHere’s everything we know about the alleged shooter so far:The Florida State University Police Department identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner. He is believed to be a student at FSU. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Ikner is the son of a deputy who has served the office for over 18 years. Police said Ikner was carrying a handgun that used to be a service weapon for the sheriff’s office. Authorities clarified that Ikner’s mother purchased her service weapons, which means they are now classified as her personal property. Ikner was also a member of the Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council and engaged in many training programs at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Therefore, Leon County deputies said it didn’t come as a surprise that he had access to weapons.The council intends to provide young people with an active role to address youth issues, according to the sheriff’s office website.Jacob West, 18, was member of the same council and said he was shocked to learn the identity of the shooter, the New York Times reported.West told the NYT that Ikner was always in good spirits, helpful and promising. “To hear what had happened was absolutely just heartbreaking,” West said, according to the NYT.Before attending FSU, Ikner was enrolled at Tallahassee State College for two years. Classmates reported he was kicked out of a political discussion group due to white supremacist views. Related: ‘Scared for my friends’: Florida State University students shaken after shootingAs of now, Ikner remains in the hospital as he was injured after law enforcement opened fire to end the shooting. Authorities said Ikner is not speaking, so the motive behind the shooting remains unknown. Related: What we know about the deadly shooting at Florida State UniversityRelated: UCF community reacts to FSU shooting on Thursday
A 20-year-old student has been accused of being the gunman behind the Florida State University shooting that left two people dead and six others injured, according to police.
Related: 2 dead, 6 injured at Florida State University shooting
Here’s everything we know about the alleged shooter so far:
The Florida State University Police Department identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner. He is believed to be a student at FSU.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Ikner is the son of a deputy who has served the office for over 18 years.
Police said Ikner was carrying a handgun that used to be a service weapon for the sheriff’s office.
Authorities clarified that Ikner’s mother purchased her service weapons, which means they are now classified as her personal property.
Ikner was also a member of the Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council and engaged in many training programs at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Therefore, Leon County deputies said it didn’t come as a surprise that he had access to weapons.
The council intends to provide young people with an active role to address youth issues, according to the sheriff’s office website.
Jacob West, 18, was member of the same council and said he was shocked to learn the identity of the shooter, the New York Times reported.
West told the NYT that Ikner was always in good spirits, helpful and promising.
“To hear what had happened was absolutely just heartbreaking,” West said, according to the NYT.
Before attending FSU, Ikner was enrolled at Tallahassee State College for two years.
Classmates reported he was kicked out of a political discussion group due to white supremacist views.
Related: ‘Scared for my friends’: Florida State University students shaken after shooting
As of now, Ikner remains in the hospital as he was injured after law enforcement opened fire to end the shooting.
Authorities said Ikner is not speaking, so the motive behind the shooting remains unknown.
Related: What we know about the deadly shooting at Florida State University
Related: UCF community reacts to FSU shooting on Thursday
