The Day Everything Changed
It was just before noon, a normal Thursday at FSU. The Student Union was buzzing students grabbing lunch, hanging out, or rushing to class. Then, out of nowhere, gunshots rang out. The FSU Alert system sent a chilling message at 12:01 p.m.: “Seek shelter. Lock doors. Stay away from windows.” Can you imagine getting that text? Your heart would just drop.
Students who were there shared stories that make your stomach twist. Blake Leonard, an FSU student, thought the 30 or so shots he heard were construction noise at first. “Then I saw people running, and I knew it was real,” he told CBS News Miami [Web|1]. Another student, McKenzie Heeter, saw the shooter pull up in an orange Hummer, grab a rifle, and start firing. When he missed his targets, he switched to a handgun and shot a woman right in front of her. “I just started running,” McKenzie said [Web|3]. That’s the kind of moment you never forget.
People did whatever they could to stay safe. Gabriel Santoro, a senior, was in class in the Bellamy Building when the alert came. His class piled desks and chairs against the door, hearts racing [Web|1]. Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old student, hid with 30 others in a bowling alley under the Student Union. Some ducked into a freight elevator or locked themselves in bar restrooms nearby [Web|3]. Kai McGalla, a sophomore, couldn’t believe it was happening: “You think, ‘This can’t be real,’ right?” [Web|2].
The police moved fast. FSU campus police, along with Tallahassee officers and other agencies, were on the scene in minutes. By 3:20 p.m., they’d stopped the threat, and most of the campus lockdown was lifted, though the Student Union area stayed closed off as a crime scene [Web|1]. The shooter, wounded by police after ignoring their commands, was arrested and taken to the hospital. It was a terrifying few hours, but the quick response probably saved lives.
The Lives Lost and the Survivors
The two people killed weren’t FSU students, but their names haven’t been released yet, which makes it feel even heavier somehow—like we’re all waiting to honor them properly. Six others, including the shooter, were treated at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. By the next morning, the hospital said two patients were ready to go home, three were doing okay, and one was stable [Web|1]. Dr. Brett Howard, a surgeon there, said the surgeries went well, which is a small bit of good news in all this [Web|1].
But the pain doesn’t stop with physical injuries. The whole FSU community is hurting. President Richard McCullough called it a “tragic” and “heartbreaking” day, promising to support everyone on campus [Web|1]. They canceled classes and shut down business operations through Friday, April 18, and all sports events through Sunday, April 20. A vigil was set for 5 p.m. on April 18 at Langford Green, near the Unconquered Statue, to remember the victims and come together [Web|2]. It’s the kind of thing that helps, even if it’s just a little, when you’re trying to make sense of something so senseless.
Who Was Phoenix Ikner?
The shooter, Phoenix Ikner, is 20 years old, an FSU political science major, and here’s where it gets complicated the stepson of Jessica Ikner, a respected Leon County sheriff’s deputy with 18 years on the job [Web|2]. The gun he used was a handgun his stepmom had bought for personal use after retiring it as her service weapon, something cops often do. He also had a shotgun, though we don’t know if he used it [Web|2]. It’s tough to hear that someone so young, with access to weapons like that, could do something so devastating.
Ikner’s story is layered. He was part of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, a program for kids to get involved in community stuff and learn about law enforcement. Sheriff Walter McNeil said Ikner was “steeped in the sheriff’s office family” and had been around guns through their training programs [Web|2]. That makes you wonder how someone so connected to law enforcement could end up here.
His past shows some struggles. Court records mention a messy custody battle between his biological parents from 2007 to 2023. In 2015, his mom was accused of taking him out of the country against the custody agreement [Web|2]. In 2020, he legally changed his name from Christian Gunner Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner, which the FBI noted [Web|2]. On Instagram, which he took down after the shooting, he had a biblical quote about being a “war club” and shattering nations, which feels eerie now [Web|2].
Some people who knew him were stunned. Jacob West, an 18-year-old in the same youth council, said Ikner was always cheerful, into cars and video games [Web|2]. But there are whispers unconfirmed ones that he had far-right or white supremacist views. We can’t run with that without proof, though; it’s too easy to slap labels on someone after something like this. Ikner, a registered Republican since 2022, hasn’t said anything since his arrest, so his reasons are still a mystery [Web|2].
How Leaders Responded
The news hit everyone hard, from local officials to the White House. Governor Ron DeSantis posted on X, sending prayers to the “FSU family” and saying state police were on it [Web|1]. The FBI and ATF jumped in to help investigate, asking for any photos or videos from witnesses [Web|1]. President Trump called it “a horrible thing” but pushed back on gun control talk, saying, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do” [Web|1]. That’s a line that always sparks debate.
Senator Rick Scott prayed for FSU and the injured [Web|1], while gun control advocates like Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime in the 2018 Parkland shooting, spoke about the trauma that lingers. He pointed out that some Parkland survivors, now at FSU, went through their second school shooting. “All I ever wanted was to help our kids be safe,” he posted on X [Web|3]. It’s heartbreaking to think about.
What This Means for All of Us
This wasn’t just another news story it’s a gut punch. Florida’s had six mass shootings in 2025 alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive [Web|1]. FSU itself dealt with a shooting in 2014 at Strozier Library, where three people were hurt [Web|1]. It’s like we’re stuck in a loop, and every time it happens, we ask the same questions: Why? How do we stop this?
Ikner getting his hands on a gun through his stepmom’s purchase makes you think about how guns are stored and who can access them, especially in law enforcement families. Sheriff McNeil wasn’t shocked that Ikner had weapons, given his sheriff’s office ties [Web|2]. That’s something we need to dig into how do we make sure programs like that catch warning signs?
Campus safety is another big question. FSU’s quick lockdown and police response were incredible President McCullough called the campus cops “absolute heroes” [Web|1]. But no matter how fast they act, the fear students felt hiding in bowling alleys or barricading doors doesn’t just go away. The vigil and canceled classes are a start, but healing’s going to take time.
Coming Together After the Unthinkable
This shooting leaves us all a little raw. Knowing Phoenix Ikner was one of FSU’s own, someone who walked the same halls as his victims, makes it even harder to process. The FSU community is strong, though coming together for that vigil, supporting each other, and trying to find a way forward. As the investigation continues, we’re left wondering what drove him to this and how we can keep it from happening again. It’s not just about FSU; it’s about every school, every town, every place where people just want to feel safe. For now, we hold the victims and their families in our hearts and hope for better days.
It was just before noon, a normal Thursday at FSU. The Student Union was buzzing students grabbing lunch, hanging out, or rushing to class. Then, out of nowhere, gunshots rang out. The FSU Alert system sent a chilling message at 12:01 p.m.: “Seek shelter. Lock doors. Stay away from windows.” Can you imagine getting that text? Your heart would just drop.
Students who were there shared stories that make your stomach twist. Blake Leonard, an FSU student, thought the 30 or so shots he heard were construction noise at first. “Then I saw people running, and I knew it was real,” he told CBS News Miami [Web|1]. Another student, McKenzie Heeter, saw the shooter pull up in an orange Hummer, grab a rifle, and start firing. When he missed his targets, he switched to a handgun and shot a woman right in front of her. “I just started running,” McKenzie said [Web|3]. That’s the kind of moment you never forget.
People did whatever they could to stay safe. Gabriel Santoro, a senior, was in class in the Bellamy Building when the alert came. His class piled desks and chairs against the door, hearts racing [Web|1]. Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old student, hid with 30 others in a bowling alley under the Student Union. Some ducked into a freight elevator or locked themselves in bar restrooms nearby [Web|3]. Kai McGalla, a sophomore, couldn’t believe it was happening: “You think, ‘This can’t be real,’ right?” [Web|2].
The police moved fast. FSU campus police, along with Tallahassee officers and other agencies, were on the scene in minutes. By 3:20 p.m., they’d stopped the threat, and most of the campus lockdown was lifted, though the Student Union area stayed closed off as a crime scene [Web|1]. The shooter, wounded by police after ignoring their commands, was arrested and taken to the hospital. It was a terrifying few hours, but the quick response probably saved lives.
The Lives Lost and the Survivors
The two people killed weren’t FSU students, but their names haven’t been released yet, which makes it feel even heavier somehow—like we’re all waiting to honor them properly. Six others, including the shooter, were treated at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. By the next morning, the hospital said two patients were ready to go home, three were doing okay, and one was stable [Web|1]. Dr. Brett Howard, a surgeon there, said the surgeries went well, which is a small bit of good news in all this [Web|1].
But the pain doesn’t stop with physical injuries. The whole FSU community is hurting. President Richard McCullough called it a “tragic” and “heartbreaking” day, promising to support everyone on campus [Web|1]. They canceled classes and shut down business operations through Friday, April 18, and all sports events through Sunday, April 20. A vigil was set for 5 p.m. on April 18 at Langford Green, near the Unconquered Statue, to remember the victims and come together [Web|2]. It’s the kind of thing that helps, even if it’s just a little, when you’re trying to make sense of something so senseless.
Who Was Phoenix Ikner?
The shooter, Phoenix Ikner, is 20 years old, an FSU political science major, and here’s where it gets complicated the stepson of Jessica Ikner, a respected Leon County sheriff’s deputy with 18 years on the job [Web|2]. The gun he used was a handgun his stepmom had bought for personal use after retiring it as her service weapon, something cops often do. He also had a shotgun, though we don’t know if he used it [Web|2]. It’s tough to hear that someone so young, with access to weapons like that, could do something so devastating.
Ikner’s story is layered. He was part of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, a program for kids to get involved in community stuff and learn about law enforcement. Sheriff Walter McNeil said Ikner was “steeped in the sheriff’s office family” and had been around guns through their training programs [Web|2]. That makes you wonder how someone so connected to law enforcement could end up here.
His past shows some struggles. Court records mention a messy custody battle between his biological parents from 2007 to 2023. In 2015, his mom was accused of taking him out of the country against the custody agreement [Web|2]. In 2020, he legally changed his name from Christian Gunner Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner, which the FBI noted [Web|2]. On Instagram, which he took down after the shooting, he had a biblical quote about being a “war club” and shattering nations, which feels eerie now [Web|2].
Some people who knew him were stunned. Jacob West, an 18-year-old in the same youth council, said Ikner was always cheerful, into cars and video games [Web|2]. But there are whispers unconfirmed ones that he had far-right or white supremacist views. We can’t run with that without proof, though; it’s too easy to slap labels on someone after something like this. Ikner, a registered Republican since 2022, hasn’t said anything since his arrest, so his reasons are still a mystery [Web|2].
How Leaders Responded
The news hit everyone hard, from local officials to the White House. Governor Ron DeSantis posted on X, sending prayers to the “FSU family” and saying state police were on it [Web|1]. The FBI and ATF jumped in to help investigate, asking for any photos or videos from witnesses [Web|1]. President Trump called it “a horrible thing” but pushed back on gun control talk, saying, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do” [Web|1]. That’s a line that always sparks debate.
Senator Rick Scott prayed for FSU and the injured [Web|1], while gun control advocates like Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime in the 2018 Parkland shooting, spoke about the trauma that lingers. He pointed out that some Parkland survivors, now at FSU, went through their second school shooting. “All I ever wanted was to help our kids be safe,” he posted on X [Web|3]. It’s heartbreaking to think about.
What This Means for All of Us
This wasn’t just another news story it’s a gut punch. Florida’s had six mass shootings in 2025 alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive [Web|1]. FSU itself dealt with a shooting in 2014 at Strozier Library, where three people were hurt [Web|1]. It’s like we’re stuck in a loop, and every time it happens, we ask the same questions: Why? How do we stop this?
Ikner getting his hands on a gun through his stepmom’s purchase makes you think about how guns are stored and who can access them, especially in law enforcement families. Sheriff McNeil wasn’t shocked that Ikner had weapons, given his sheriff’s office ties [Web|2]. That’s something we need to dig into how do we make sure programs like that catch warning signs?
Campus safety is another big question. FSU’s quick lockdown and police response were incredible President McCullough called the campus cops “absolute heroes” [Web|1]. But no matter how fast they act, the fear students felt hiding in bowling alleys or barricading doors doesn’t just go away. The vigil and canceled classes are a start, but healing’s going to take time.
Coming Together After the Unthinkable
This shooting leaves us all a little raw. Knowing Phoenix Ikner was one of FSU’s own, someone who walked the same halls as his victims, makes it even harder to process. The FSU community is strong, though coming together for that vigil, supporting each other, and trying to find a way forward. As the investigation continues, we’re left wondering what drove him to this and how we can keep it from happening again. It’s not just about FSU; it’s about every school, every town, every place where people just want to feel safe. For now, we hold the victims and their families in our hearts and hope for better days.
