Cop's son kills two in Florida State University mass shooting

A mass shooting rocked Florida State University on April 17 when a 20-year-old student, identified as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire on campus using a firearm belonging to his mother — a veteran local sheriff's deputy.

The attack left two people dead and five others hospitalized before the gunman was shot and injured by law enforcement.

The university was placed on immediate lockdown as students and faculty were ordered to shelter in place. The shooting began near the student union around lunchtime, plunging the sprawling campus into chaos.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed Ikner is the son of an 18-year member of his department, describing her as an “exceptional” officer. He revealed that one of the weapons used in the attack was her former service gun.

“Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons,” McNeil said. “It’s not a surprise to us that he had access, given his participation in our training programs.”

Ikner was taken to the hospital following the confrontation with police. His condition remains unknown.

Footage broadcast by CNN captured the harrowing scene: a young man calmly walking across campus grounds, firing at fleeing students. Eyewitness accounts described a sudden eruption of violence.

“Everyone just started running out of the student union,” a student named Wayne told WCTV. “About a minute later, we heard eight to ten shots. It was surreal—quiet one moment, then total chaos.”

Authorities have not released the identities of the two deceased victims but confirmed they were not enrolled at FSU.

Student Sam Swartz recounted hiding in the basement of the student union as gunfire echoed above. “We barricaded ourselves with trash cans and plywood,” he said. “We were taught to make the shooter take time—to slow them down however we could.”

Footage circulating on social media showed students with their hands raised, filing out of buildings in silence as law enforcement swept the area.

Florida State University President Richard McCullough called the incident a “tragic day” and vowed to support those affected. “We’re absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus today,” he said.

The university, which serves over 40,000 students, canceled all classes and advised off-campus students to return home.

The shooting adds to the growing toll of gun violence across the country. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 81 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone, defined as incidents in which four or more people are shot.

Despite the recurring tragedies, the debate over gun control remains deeply divisive. President Donald Trump responded to the FSU shooting, calling it “a shame” but reaffirming his commitment to the Second Amendment.

“These things are terrible,” Trump said, “but the gun doesn’t do the shooting — the people do.”