FSU shooting latest: Gunman, 20, who killed two and injured 5 ‘is a cop’s son’

“My heart breaks for Florida State University,” Gabby Giffords said on X. “It’s horrifying that students who survived the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seven years ago just lived through another. The constant gun violence must stop.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is praying for the entire Florida State community, he said in a video on X. The suspect “must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law,” the governor added.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected by the shooting at Florida State University,” Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said in an X post. “Our places of learning should never be the target of violence—this should not be the reality on our campuses.”

Florida State Rep. Michele K. Rayner issued a statement in the wake of the shooting. “As an alumna of Florida State University and a current member of the Florida Legislature, I am heartbroken and deeply troubled by the tragic events that unfolded on FSU’s campus,” Rayner said.

“Our schools, colleges, and universities must be sanctuaries of safety and learning—not places marked by fear and violence. Once we have all the facts, we must respond with urgency and resolve to ensure that no community in Florida has to endure a tragedy like this again,” the state representative added.

Speaking at the press conference, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said that Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old suspected shooter, was involved in the law enforcement community. He was involved in the sheriff’s office’s Youth Advisory Council.

“This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever 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 never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation.”

Two people are dead and six others were taken to hospital in serious condition following after a 20-year-old student and son of a cop opened fire at Florida State University’s campus.

Phoenix Ikner was taken into custody following the brutal attack, which caused the campus in Tallahassee to be locked down on Thursday. FSU officials alerted students to reports of an active shooter and students were warned to shelter in place.

At a press conference Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil revealed that Ikner was the son of Leon County deputy Jessica Ikner, and had used a weapon owned by his mother to carry out the shooting.

Mike Bedigan has the latest.

A reporter asked President Donald Trump about whether he hopes to see change with gun legislation.

“I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do,” the president said.

“I will tell you that it’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now,” he added, noting he’ll say more later when he knows more information.

“As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment,” Trump continued.

Two people were killed and five victims and the suspected shooter were taken to the hospital, police said.

Police are not releasing information about the victims at this point.

The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to police, authorities said. The suspect had a shotgun in his possession, but it’s not clear if it was used.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil called the incident a “heinous crime.”

He identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, who is the son of a Leon County sheriff’s office deputy.

“Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons,” which was found at the scene, he said.

At around 11.50 a.m., a gunman opened fire at FSU’s main campus near the student union building, university police said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Two have been pronounced dead and five others were rushed to local hospitals after a shooter opened fire. The shooter was also taken to the hospital, authorities said. The gunman is believed to be a student

All classes are cancelled through Friday and athletic events are cancelled through Sunday.

“It was just chaos,” one student told CBS Miami, noting how students began piling tables up and blocking the elevator to secure themselves in a classroom.

She said she saw a man being hauled away on a gurney who was bleeding: “It was hard to watch.”

Another witness said he heard eight to 10 gunshots. “It was surreal,” he told the outlet.