Latest updates on Phoenix Ikner - Mass Shooter at FSU, victims named
- 17GEN4
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
The mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee occurred on April 17, 2025, near the Student Union. Here are the latest updates based on available information:
Casualties and Injuries: Two people were killed, identified as Robert Morales, 57, a campus dining director, and Tiru Chabba, 45, a regional vice president at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. Six others were injured, with five sustaining gunshot wounds and one injured while fleeing. All injured victims, including the suspect, were reported in stable or fair condition by April 18, with some requiring surgery.
Suspect: The shooter was identified as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old FSU junior political science major and stepson of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Jessica Ikner. Ikner used his stepmother’s former service handgun and a shotgun in the attack. He was shot by police after refusing to comply with commands, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and remains hospitalized. He faces charges up to and including first-degree murder upon release. No known connection between Ikner and the victims has been established, and the motive remains under investigation.
Timeline and Response: Ikner arrived at an FSU parking garage around 11 a.m. and began shooting at 11:50 a.m. Police neutralized him within two minutes of 911 calls. The university issued an active shooter alert at 12:01 p.m., and the campus was secured by 3 p.m. Law enforcement, including the FBI and ATF, responded, and the Tallahassee Police Department is leading the investigation.
Suspect’s Background: Ikner, a dual American-Norwegian citizen, transferred to FSU from Tallahassee State College in spring 2025. He was a member of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and had access to weapons through his stepmother. He expressed white supremacist and far-right views, leading to his removal from a political club at Tallahassee State College. Court records indicate a chaotic upbringing, and his biological mother was bewildered by the attack, opposing firearms in his life.
University and Community Response: FSU canceled classes and events through April 20, resuming operations on April 21. A vigil was held on April 18 at Langford Green, and a makeshift memorial was set up near the Student Union. Mental health support services were offered. Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags at half-staff until April 21, and President Trump called the incident a “shame” but reaffirmed his support for the Second Amendment.
Context and Aftermath: This was the 81st mass shooting in the U.S. in 2025, per the Gun Violence Archive. FSU experienced a prior shooting in 2014, wounding three. Some FSU students, survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting, expressed renewed trauma. Investigations are exploring a possible link to a planned protest by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society, which Ikner had criticized.
Investigation Updates: Authorities are interviewing witnesses and analyzing evidence, including a handgun found on Ikner, a shotgun in the Student Union, and another gun in his car. The FBI is collecting tips via a digital portal. No motive has been confirmed, and police are vetting potential connections to victims or events.
The FSU community continues to grieve, with ongoing support for victims’ families and students. The investigation remains active, with no further threats reported.
Note: Information is based on reports up to April 20, 2025, and may evolve as the investigation progresses. For real-time updates, check trusted news sources or official FSU communications.
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