Tragedy at FSU: What We Know So Far About the 2025 Campus Shooting
Overview
On April 17, 2025, a shooting occurred at the Florida State University student union in Tallahassee, Florida. Two people were killed and six were injured in the attack. The suspected gunman, 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, was arrested after being wounded by police responding to the shooting.
Timeline of Events
The shooting was quick and lasted less than five minutes, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.
- 11:00 a.m.: Ikner arrived at an FSU parking garage and remained in the area for nearly an hour
- 11:51 a.m.: He left the parking lot
- 11:56-11:57 a.m.: The first shots were fired
- 11:58 a.m.: Multiple 911 calls reported an active shooter on campus
- 12:00 p.m.: The threat was contained as the suspect was shot by responding officers and taken into custody
The Shooter
Phoenix Ikner is described as a 20-year-old FSU student with a troubled history:
- He is the stepson of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner, who had worked with the department for over 18 years
- He had previously been known as Christian Eriksen before legally changing his name to Phoenix Ikner in June 2020
- Court records revealed he was the subject of a prolonged custody battle between his birth parents, Anne-Mari Eriksen and Christopher Ikner, spanning from 2007 to 2023
- In 2016, his birth mother was found guilty of removing him from the state and failing to return him
- He had a history of mental and physical health issues as a child, including developmental delays, a growth hormone disorder, and ADHD
- Former classmates reported that he espoused white supremacist views and far-right rhetoric, with one classmate noting he was removed from a political discussion club due to these extreme viewpoints
Weapons Used
The primary weapon used in the shooting was a handgun that belonged to the suspect’s stepmother, a former military weapon that she now keeps as a personal firearm. Police also noted that the gunman had a shotgun, though they have not confirmed whether it was used during the attack.
Victims
The shooting resulted in two fatalities and six injuries:
- One identified victim was 57-year-old Robert Morales, a longtime employee in FSU’s dining services department who was attending a meeting with other university staff when the shooting erupted.
- Morales was the son of Ricardo “Monkey” Morales, a controversial Cuban American CIA operative and anti-Castro militant from the Cold War era.
- The six injured victims were treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, with all reported to be in fair or good condition, with two expected to be discharged by Friday.
- Authorities have stated that there was no apparent connection between the shooter and the victims.
Response and Aftermath
The university and broader community responded quickly to the tragedy:
- FSU issued initial alerts at 12:01 p.m. and 12:19 p.m.
- Lockdown lifted by 3:00 p.m., with nine buildings remaining as active crime scenes.
- FSU President Richard McCullough expressed grief and gratitude for law enforcement response.
- All classes, business operations, and athletic events canceled through April 18.
- FSU organized a vigil on April 18 at Langford Green.
- FBI established a tip line for information or media.
- FSU opened a Support Center at Askew Student Life Center for counseling and victim advocate services.