Dual citizen, deputy sheriff’s son, political science major: Who is Florida firing suspect Phoenix Ikner ? | World News

At least two people were killed and six others, including the gunman, were injured after a shooting erupted at Florida State University’s (FSU) Tallahassee campus around midday on Thursday. The incident occurred near the student union building, prompting a swift response from campus security and city police.
Authorities confirmed that the two deceased victims were not FSU students. Their identities have not been released.  Five others injured, along with the gunman, were taken to the same hospital for treatment.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, opened fire near the student union building around lunchtime. Ikner is a student at FSU and the son of a veteran Leon County police officer.
The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
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Who is Phoenix Ikner?
Phoenix Ikner is a Political Science student at FSU and the son of Jessica Ikner, a veteran deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, where she has served for over 18 years. She currently works as a school resource officer and had retained a department-issued firearm after an equipment upgrade.
Authorities confirmed that Ikner brought one of his mother’s pols to campus and was also in possession of a shotgun, though it remains unclear if the latter was used during the attack. He was shot police after failing to comply with orders and taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. His current condition remains undisclosed.
Court documents reviewed CNN reveal that Ikner had a troubled past. He was previously named Chrian Eriksen and is a dual citizen of the United States and Norway. At the age of 10, he was taken to Norway his biological mother in violation of a US court custody order.
Ikner had long been associated with law enforcement initiatives in his community. He was a longstanding member of the Leon County Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council and participated in multiple training programs. Sheriff Walt McNeil described him as a familiar face in the department’s youth outreach efforts.Story continues below this ad
A Florida State University sign is displayed in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Despite his background, recent reports have raised concerns about his beliefs. NBC News cited members of a political discussion group at Tallahassee State College who said Ikner often shared white supremac views and expressed support for Donald Trump’s ideologies. The group’s president said Ikner frequently made others uncomfortable and had been referred to as a fasc some participants.
An Instagram account linked to Ikner was deactivated shortly after he was identified. It had featured a quote from the Bible: “You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms.”
FSU student newspaper FSUNews.com had quoted Ikner in an earlier report on anti-Trump protests, but later removed the quote, explaining they did not wish to amplify his voice following the tragedy.
Emergency alerts sent the FSU urged students and staff to seek shelter. Some were seen hiding in a bowling alley or inside freight elevators. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell confirmed that Ikner did not fire at responding officers and had refused to speak once detained.Story continues below this ad
The university has since resumed normal operations, though the area around the student union remains cordoned off for investigation.
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