The shooter was shot by police and is being treated in the hospital.
According to Reuters, the suspect was identified as Phoenix Ikner, 20 years old, believed to be a student at Florida State University (FSU), USA. Initial investigation shows that Ikner acted alone, the motive for the crime has not yet been determined.
Shockingly, the suspect used a gun as a weapon for his mother - a deputy chief police officer of Leon County. She bought this gun from the agency when she quit her job, turning it into her personal property.
Unfortunately, her son had access to the gun, and we found it at the scene, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said at a press conference.
The shooting started at around 11:50 a.m. on April 17, 2025 (local time) near the student union building, causing panic in the school campus with more than 42,000 students. The police immediately blocked off the scene and asked students and lecturers to take shelter on the spot.
The two victims who died were not students of the school, while the identities and conditions of the four injured have not been announced.
In addition to the gun, the suspect also carries a hunting gun, but authorities are uncertain whether it will be used in the incident.
A student named Max Jenkins recounted the horrifying scene: I saw him leave the student building, shooting about 4-5 shots. He turned to a maintenance worker who was waving his hand to warn everyone, then fired more.
Meanwhile, Chris Pento, who was taking his child to see the school, said his daughter was trampled while running away: The scene was horrifying. Everyone panicked and ran away, and the child was trampled in front of me.
This is the second time in 11 years that FSU has seen a serious shooting incident. Previously, in 2014, a former student also opened fire at the school's main library, injuring three people.
School shooting has become a recurring tragedy in the US for many years. Heartbreaking cases such as the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 or two incidents at Michigan State University and Nevada State University in 2023 show that universities are increasingly becoming vulnerable targets if security is not tightened.
