Prayers Up! One Dead, Multiple Reportedly Injured As Cops Arrest Suspect In Florida State University Shooting
A mass shooting took place at Florida State University in Tallahassee on Thursday (April 17). The tragedy, per ABC News, has reportedly left two dead and at least six others injured, with the school going into full lockdown. Terrified video footage from students circulating on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows people hiding under classroom tables as gunshots rang out nearby. Here’s the breakdown.
RELATED: UPDATE: Suspect Extradited To North Carolina Months After Allegedly Shooting 18-Year-Old Waffle House EmployeeWhat Happened At Florida State University?The shooting began shortly before noon, with FSU issuing an emergency alert at 12:01 p.m. warning of an active shooter in the Student Union area. According to reports, around 20 gunshots rang out, prompting panic as students fled or hid. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said they’d received six victims, with one in critical condition and five in serious condition. Meanwhile, the university has announced the cancellation of all home athletic events through Friday as law enforcement begins its investigation.
More Details On The Suspect
During a press conference, authorities named 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner as the suspect in the school shooting. Phoenix, according to Sheriff Walter McNeil, is the son of Jessica Ikner, a deputy who’s been with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office for over 18 years. McNeil revealed that Phoenix allegedly got his hands on one of his mother’s firearms, which was one of the weapons found at the scene. In addition to the handgun, he also had a shotgun on him. McKneil confirmed that the shooting left at least two people dead and six others injured. Meanwhile, Phoenix was shot and rushed to the hospital following a standoff with police. He was a “long-standing member” of the Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Advisory Council, McNeil added, practically raised in the sheriff’s office family. “It’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.”
A motive behind the shooting currently remains unknown.
Students Share Their Horrific ExperienceVideos of the shooting have been pouring in on social media, showing the scary situation unfold in front of students’ eyes. In one clip, students rush down a flight of stairs as cops lead them to safety. Another viral video shows officers storming across campus while some students hunker down in their classrooms. Another widely shared clip captures students hiding under desks.
Blake Leonard told CBS Miami of the incident, saying, “I heard about 12 shots go off. In my head I thought it was construction at first, until I looked behind me and saw people running from the union towards my direction, and then I heard another 12 or 15 shots go off, so I started running away from there too.”
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