On Thursday, a 20-year-old MAGA supporter entered the FSU and opened fire, which led to the death of two people while injuring at least six other people. The FSU police chief told the press that the two people who died were not university students. Out of the six people admitted to the hospital, one of them is in critical condition.
A campus lockdown was set in place at around 11:50 am and was lifted shortly after 3 pm, after the suspect was shot and taken into custody. Students and faculty members were barred from entering the student union building and other areas that were marked as “active crime scenes.” Otherwise, the campus was free for students, parents, and visitors to move around.
What Do We Know About the FSU Shooting?
The suspect was identified as a 20-year-old FSU student, Phoenix Ikner. Ikner was the son of a local deputy and spent time training with law enforcement while also serving on the sheriff’s advisory council in the years leading up to the attack. During his arrest, Ikner was carrying a handgun that had previously been used by Deputy Jessica Ikner.
Ikner is a registered Republican voter, and a look at his social media profile reveals him to be a MAGA supporter. Back in January, Phoenix Ikner was also quoted in an FSU student newspaper article in which he defended Trump while criticizing the anti-Trump protests in advance of the president’s inauguration.
Students described Ikner as a “typical college guy” dressed in an orange T-shirt. According to eyewitnesses, the shooter arrived in an orange Hummer with a rifle and opened fire. Another FSU student added that the shooter shot a random woman in the back, indicating that the targets were chosen at random.
FSU campus security and the Sheriff’s department acted swiftly, gunning down the suspect after he failed to surrender. Apart from the Florida Police, multiple law enforcement agencies like the FBI and ATF also arrived at the scene and assisted with the investigation.
What We Don’t Know About the Florida State University Shooting?
The investigation is still going on into the FSU shooting, with a lot of crucial information still not being publicly disclosed or confirmed. The identities of the two victims who lost their lives are still unknown. All we know is that they are not students at Florida State University.
While we know that Phoenix Ikner was stuck in a long custodial battle between his birth parents for over 16 years. However, the motives behind the shooting are still unclear. Some believe it has something to do with his white supremacist beliefs or his mental state.
Investigations are ongoing, and additional information may emerge as authorities continue their work.
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