Photo: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Two people were killed in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee just before noon on Thursday (April 17). FSU Chief of Police Jason Trumbower said that five others were taken to the hospital along with the suspected shooter. The two deceased victims were not students at the university.
Leon County Sheriff Walter A. McNeil identified the suspected gunman as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. McNeil said that Ikner was the son of a current Leon County sheriff's deputy and had access to her guns. He has refused to speak with investigators or provide a reason for the attack.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell told reporters that Ikner refused to "comply with demands" before an officer shot him. He did not fire at the police.
Police recovered a handgun on Ikner when he was arrested. The handgun belonged to his mother, which she purchased from the sheriff's office when she got a new duty weapon. In addition, investigators recovered a shotgun at the Student Union and found another gun in his car.
“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. “We are continuing that investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to.”
McNeil noted that Ikner had taken part in training programs offered by the sheriff's office.
“So it’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons,” McNeil added.
Officials at the school have canceled all classes through Friday.
“Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this of this terrible tragedy,” Florida State University President Richard McCullough said. “I have to say that our law enforcement, our FSU police officers — absolute heroes in this regard.”