At least 1 dead, multiple injured as shooter opens fire on FSU student union
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 18
0:24
WGOLV.COM - UPDATE - At least two people were killed and six others were injured.
Leon County Sheriff has identified the shooter as 20-year-old Pheonix Ikner, shown in a photo posted to Instagram.
First responders shot the suspect on campus, and he has since been hospitalized, officials said. He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries, according to ABC News.
The suspect was identified during the press conference as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner.
Previous article -
Tragic news today - At least one person has died and six others are injured following a shooting by a gunman at Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus on Thursday, according to law enforcement sources and officials.
Five of the victims are believed to be in serious condition while the sixth is in critical condition, according to NBC News.
Police sources informed The New York Post that at least one suspect was apprehended, and online footage seems to depict a bloodied and handcuffed person being placed into an ambulance.
Students with hands above their heads were escorted on campus
X/@FSU_Barstool
A handgun was discovered on the suspect, with one shotgun found in the student union area of the school and another retrieved from the suspect's vehicle, according to CNN.
During the time of the active shooter, the school's emergency alert system issued a warning advising students to find shelter following reports of a gunman near the student union area shortly after noon.
Terrifying footage on social media appeared to show a gunman armed with a pistol marching up and down a student lawn and firing on random passersby fleeing for cover, while a wounded person lay slumped on the grass nearby.
Other clips showed crowds of students fleeing through traffic as sirens blasted in the background after the gunshots broke out.
Numerous ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies, including SWAT teams, were seen swarming the campus.
First responders rushed to help the wounded, with student Daniella Streety describing seeing somebody carried away in a desk chair as an improvised wheelchair, according to the New York Post.
“I did see them carry out one student in what looked like on a stretcher and kept them in the road until an ambulance was able to pick them up,” Streety told NBC News.
“There was a student injured there as well and they had to transport them in a desk chair to the road to then be transported via ambulance.”
The school's first alert advised students to take shelter and stay clear of doors and windows.
The alert said - “Police are on scene or on the way. Continue to seek shelter and await further instructions.” “Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures.”
Joshua Sirmans, 20, said he was in the university’s main library when he said alarms began going off warning of an active shooter.
Sirmans said law enforcement officers escorted him and other students out of the library with their hands over their heads.
“I’m shaking … It’s just a lot going on,” student Emily Palmer, 21, told CNN after she was evacuated. “I’m concerned about my friends,” she said. “I have friends in class right who are getting evacuated by police with their hands up.”
A statement on the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital website indicated that it was "actively receiving and caring for patients" following the incident.
“At this time, details are still unfolding, and we do not yet have specific information to share,” the message read.
“However, we want to assure the community that our teams are fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office was among those responding to the shooting. He said on X, “My office is responding to the active shooter situation on FSU’s campus, and we will provide updates as they become available.” The FBI said it was also on the scene.
The school said that all classes and university events have been canceled for the rest of the day.
President Trump said he’d been briefed on the shooting, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “It’s a shame, a horrible thing, it’s horrible that things like this take place.”
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote in a post on X: “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”
No other details are available at this time.
Please keep the students, faculty, and all involved in your thoughts and prayers.
This is very tragic. Students from the Lehigh Valley area also attend FSU, according to comments on my Facebook page of What's going on in the Lehigh Valley.
Thank you.
LoriLee,
WGOLV
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