Key Takeaways:
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Phoenix Ikner, 20, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder following the April 17 FSU campus shooting.
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Authorities say Ikner used a firearm previously owned by his stepmother, a longtime deputy, raising scrutiny over the weapon’s access and storage.
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Ikner was shot by campus police during the incident and spent weeks in the hospital before being transferred to a detention facility for his court appearance.
The suspect in last month’s mass shooting at Florida State University, which left two people dead and six others injured, has been formally charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Phoenix Ikner, 20, was released from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare on Monday, May 12, following weeks of treatment and surgeries for injuries sustained when campus police shot him during his arrest.
The Tallahassee Police Department confirmed Ikner is now charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. Ikner is accused of opening fire on April 17 near FSU’s student union, resulting in the deaths of Robert Morales, 57, a dining coordinator, and Tiru Chabba, 45, an employee of the food service vendor Aramark.
Authorities revealed that Ikner used a handgun previously owned by his stepmother, Jessica Ikner, a respected Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy. The weapon, a former service firearm, had been purchased for personal use. While investigators continue to examine the weapon’s storage, no policy violations have been identified thus far.
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Because of his familial ties to the sheriff’s department, Ikner was transferred from the Leon County Detention Facility to Wakulla County as a matter of protocol. He is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday, May 13.
“This case has shaken our community deeply,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “We’re committed to full transparency and justice for the victims and their families.”
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Authorities have indicated that there was no known connection between Ikner and the victims. His past behavior and political views have since come under scrutiny, with former classmates describing him as expressing disturbing rhetoric, though it is not yet known whether ideology played a role in the attack.
Jessica Ikner has taken indefinite personal leave from the sheriff’s office following her stepson’s arrest.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, FSU students and faculty held vigils and marched to the state Capitol, calling for increased college safety and legislative action.