Introduction to the FSU Shooting
The suspect in Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University, which left two people dead and several others injured, is the 20-year-old son of a longtime sheriff’s deputy, officials said.
Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil identified the suspect as Phoenix Ikner, who is also believed to be a current FSU student.
The Suspect’s Background
"The alleged shooter was also a long-standing member of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office citizen advisory, or youth advisory council," McNeil said. "So he has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have."
Officials said the 20-year-old suspect is the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
The Shooter’s Parent
McNeil did not name the suspect’s parent, but said she has been in the department for over 18 years and that her service to the community has been "exceptional." Police said they believed the suspect shot the victims using his mother’s former service handgun.
"Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene," he said.
Response to the Shooting
Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.
"This event is tragic in more ways than you people can fathom from a law enforcement perspective," McNeil said. "But I will tell you this: We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will not be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation."
The Suspect’s Ideology
Several students who knew the suspect told NBC News that he espoused white supremacist views and was told at one point to leave a political club because he made other people uncomfortable.
Riley Pusins, the current president of the political discourse club at Tallahassee State College – where the suspect attended before transferring to FSU – said many of the members called the suspect a fascist.
"Basically our only rule was no Nazis — colloquially speaking — and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric, and far-right rhetoric as well, to the point where we had to exercise that role," Reid Seybold, who was once a part of the club before transferring to FSU, told NBC News.
Reactions to the Suspect’s Identity
Another former member of the club told NBC News they were "a bit shocked" finding out Ikner was the suspect.
“He was pretty normal; he was nice,” Nicholas Lobo said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Conclusion
The shooting at Florida State University has left the community in shock, and the revelation that the suspect is the son of a sheriff’s deputy has raised questions about access to firearms and the spread of extremist ideologies.
FAQs
- Who is the suspect in the FSU shooting?
The suspect is Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old son of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy. - What was the motive behind the shooting?
The motive is still under investigation, but several students have come forward to say that the suspect espoused white supremacist views. - How did the suspect obtain the firearm?
The suspect used his mother’s former service handgun, which he had access to. - What is the current status of the investigation?
The investigation is ongoing, and officials have stated that they will do everything in their power to prosecute the suspect and send a message that such violence will not be tolerated. - Where can I find live updates on the story?
You can follow along here for live updates.
