Police said the two deceased are not students, but declined to share any other details on victims
Two men have died and multiple others are hospitalized after the son of a local sheriff’s deputy allegedly opened fire Thursday on Florida State University’s campus, officials said.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, local officials shared that six additional people are hospitalized, including the shooter. Authorities identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, who has serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to a Thursday evening Tallahassee Police Department Facebook post.
Five of the victims were shot, and one was injured while fleeing the gunfire, authorities said.
The deceased are not students, according to FSU Police.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil also identified Ikner as the son of a LCSO school resource deputy. He also disclosed that Ikner has been a “longstanding” member of the LCSO Youth Advisory Council.
One of the weapons found at the crime scene belonged to Ikner’s mother, who has worked as an LCSO deputy for years, per Sheriff Walt McNeil. Officials said the gun was a former LCSO firearm that the deputy had purchased from the sheriff’s office and now uses as a personal weapon.
Authorities said they are continuing to investigate the crime, but as of Thursday, Deputy Jessica Ikner wil not be placed on leave or probation.
Updated details on the suspect and victims were shared during a 4:30 p.m. press conference, hours after news of the shooting first surfaced.
An active shooter was first reported on campus just before noon in the area near the Student Union. Two hours later, the Associated Press broke the news that authorities had taken a suspect into custody.
When law enforcement confronted the shooter and commanded him to stand down, he did not comply, officials alleged. So officers fired at him. It is unclear how many times law enforcement discharged their weapons or how many officers fired.
The Tallahassee Police Department is leading the investigation into the homicides as well as into the “officer-involved shooting,” according to Chief Lawrence Revell.
For hours, authorities have urged anyone on Florida State’s campus to seek shelter and await further instructions while FSU Police, Tallahassee Police and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials flood the campus.
“Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures,” the alert said.
As of 3:15 p.m., TPD said that “campus has been secured.”
“Law enforcement has neutralized the threat,” an FSU alert said just before 3:20 p.m.
The Tallahassee Police Department established a “student reunification point” at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, according to a social media post from the agency. Support services are also available there, per university officials.