FSU Shooting Suspect ID’d as 20-Year-Old Son of Sheriff’s Deputy – ryan

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, CNNreported, 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.