Tallahassee Police have identified 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a Florida State University student and graduate of Lincoln High School, as the suspect in the April 17, 2025, shooting near the FSU Student Union.
Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner, allegedly used his mother’s former service weapon, killing two people and injuring six others.
The incident, which began around 11:50 a.m., prompted a campus lockdown and a swift response from law enforcement. Ikner was shot by responders, apprehended, and is now hospitalized.
Sheriff Walter McNeil noted Ikner’s involvement in the Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, calling the event “tragic.”
The two deceased victims were not FSU students, and the motive remains unclear as Ikner has invoked his right not to speak to investigators.
Classes are canceled through Friday, and the Student Union remains an active crime scene. The investigation continues with FBI assistance.
