On Thursday, April 17, 2025, Florida State University (FSU) was the site of a mass shooting that left two individuals dead and six others injured. The incident unfolded around 11:56 a.m. near the Student Union Building and lasting for several minutes before the shooter was confronted by police officers and wounded. 

The alleged shooter was identified as 20-year-old FSU junior Phoenix Ikner, who the stepson of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. Ikner reportedly used his stepmother’s former service handgun during the attack and was also found in possession of a shotgun, though the shotgun reportedly jammed before he could use it according to witnesses. The suspect is currently hospitalized along with six other individuals he wounded during the attack.

In the immediate aftermath, the university issued a campus-wide lockdown, advising students and staff to shelter in place. Classes were canceled through Friday, and a vigil was held at Langford Green Friday afternoon to honor the victims. A makeshift memorial has since emerged near the Student Union for the victims, and also contains messages advocating for gun control measures in the state.

The shooting has reignited debates over gun control and campus safety, especially given Ikner’s background. He had previously participated in the Leon County Sheriff’s youth advisory council and was known to have had a tumultuous family history, including a prolonged custody battle between his birth parents. Ikner was also seen in pictures posted to the internet wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, and reportedly espoused white supremacist and racist views online. One FSU Student even stated that he had been kicked out of a campus organization due to these views.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Senator Rick Scott [R] visited the wounded in Tallahassee, the state’s capital. Additionally, during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Donald Trump expressed his sadness at the event. However, he also stated that he would still protect the 2nd amendment, and would not advocate for any gun control policies in wake of the shooting, angering many gun control advocates and FSU Students. The shooting has been compared to a similar incident at Parkland High School in 2018, where a former student entered the campus and killed 17 people.