Here’s what we know about the Florida State shooting suspect
Police identified the suspect as Phoenix Ikner, a Florida State student and the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
The suspect in the Florida State University shooting that left two people dead and injured at least six others on Thursday is the son of a longtime sheriff’s deputy who allegedly opened fire with his mother’s former service weapon, officials said.
Police identified the suspect as Phoenix Ikner, a Florida State student and the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner, Sheriff Walt McNeil said at a news conference. The suspect was injured and taken to a hospital, police said. Here’s what to know.
The suspect ‘had access’ to deputy’s weapon
Jessica Ikner has worked at the sheriff’s office for more than 18 years. The suspect “had access to one of her weapons,” which was found at the scene of the shooting, McNeil said. McNeil added that it was “not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.”
The suspect allegedly used a handgun that his mother previously used on the job, officials said. When law enforcement agencies transition to using a new personal firearm, officers have the option to purchase the one they had been using, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said at the news conference. Officials said they believed that was how the suspect had obtained his mother’s former weapon.
Police said the suspect had a shotgun with him, but they had not confirmed that anyone had been shot with that firearm as of Thursday evening. They did not disclose what type of gun they had recovered from the scene.
McNeil said there was “no cause right now to be aware of that would require [Jessica Ikner] to be placed on any kind of suspension or otherwise,” adding that his agency would conduct an investigation.
The suspect was on ‘youth advisory council’ for the sheriff’s office
The suspect was a member of “the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family” and participated in various training programs, McNeil said.
He was also a long-standing member of the office’s youth advisory council, which the sheriff’s office describes as a program to give the county’s young people “an active role in addressing youth issues.”
His motive remains unclear
The suspect’s motive remained unclear as of Thursday. He invoked his right not to speak to authorities.
The suspect allegedly opened fire about 11:50 a.m. near the student union building on the FSU campus in Tallahassee, according to FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower. Revell said the suspect “did not comply with commands and was shot” when officers approached him. He did not fire at officers, according to Revell.
Five of the injured were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds, Trumbower said, and the shooter was apprehended and also taken to a hospital. The two killed were not students. Students were among those injured, FSU President Richard McCullough said.
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