Individuals sit in entrance of a makeshift memorial outdoors the coed union at Florida State College, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla., following a campus taking pictures. (AP Picture/Kate Payne)
MIAMI, United States — A mass taking pictures allegedly carried out by the son of an area deputy sheriff together with her previous service weapon left two folks lifeless at a college in Florida, police within the southeastern US state mentioned Thursday.
5 folks have been hospitalized when the gunman — recognized as Phoenix Ikner — rampaged by way of Florida State College, taking pictures at college students, earlier than he was shot and injured by native legislation enforcement.
The campus was locked down as gunfire erupted, with college students ordered to shelter in place as first responders swarmed the positioning moments after the lunchtime shootings.
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Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil advised reporters Ikner, 20, was a pupil on the college and the son of a an “distinctive” 18-year member of his workers.
“Sadly, her son had entry to one among her weapons, and that was one of many weapons that was discovered on the scene.
He added that the suspect was a part of Sheriff’s Workplace coaching packages, which means “it’s not a shock to us that he had entry to weapons.”
Ikner was taken to hospital after being shot. His situation was not instantly identified.
Bystander footage aired by CNN appeared to indicate a younger man strolling on a garden and taking pictures at individuals who have been attempting to get away.
Witnesses spoke of chaos as folks started operating by way of the sprawling campus as pictures rang out close to the coed union.
“Everybody simply began operating out of the coed union,” a witness named Wayne advised native information station WCTV.
“A few minute later, we heard about eight to 10 gunshots.”
The eyewitness mentioned he noticed one man who appeared to have been shot within the midsection.
“The entire complete factor was simply surreal. I simply couldn’t consider what I used to be seeing.
“Every thing was actually quiet, than all chaotic.”
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‘Make them take time’
The 2 individuals who died weren’t college students, police mentioned, however refused to present additional particulars.
The college, a public establishment with greater than 40,000 college students, cancelled all courses and advised college students who didn’t dwell on campus to go away.
FSU President Richard McCullough mentioned the college was working to help these affected by the assault.
“This can be a tragic day for Florida State College,” he mentioned.
“We’re completely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier right now.”
Pupil Sam Swartz advised the Tallahassee Democrat he had been within the basement of the coed union when taking pictures began.
“Everybody began freaking out,” Swartz mentioned, including he had heard round 10 pictures.
A gaggle of eight folks huddled in a hallway and barricaded themselves with trash cans and plywood.
“I keep in mind studying to do the most effective you possibly can to make them take time,” Swartz mentioned, including that mass shooters are “simply attempting to get as many individuals” as they’ll.
Footage on social media confirmed a stream of younger adults strolling by way of corridors with their palms within the air as they evacuated the constructing.
Mass shootings are frequent in the USA, the place a constitutional proper to bear arms trumps calls for for stricter guidelines.
That’s regardless of widespread public help for tighter management on firearms, together with proscribing the sale of high-capacity clips and limiting the provision of automated weapons of conflict.
President Donald Trump referred to as the taking pictures “a disgrace, a horrible factor,” however insisted that People ought to retain unfettered entry to weapons.
“I’m an enormous advocate of the Second Modification. I’ve been from the start. I protected it,” he mentioned, referring to the a part of the US Structure gun advocates say protects firearm possession.
“These items are horrible, however the gun doesn’t do the taking pictures — the folks do.”
A tally by the non-profit Gun Violence Archive exhibits there have been at the least 81 mass shootings — which it defines as 4 or extra folks shot — in the USA to date this yr.
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