TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A shooting Thursday at Florida State University left two people dead and six others hospitalized, according to investigators.
The suspect was ultimately caught after being shot himself.
Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil identified the suspect as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
McNeil said that Ikner is the stepson of a Leon County deputy, as well as a student at FSU.
“Our deputy, Deputy Ikner, has been with the sheriff’s office over 18 years,” McNeil stated during a news briefing. “She has a tremendous job that she’s done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons.”
According to the sheriff, one of Deputy Ikner’s weapons was found at the scene of Thursday’s shooting.
“We will continue the investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons, perhaps, (Phoenix) may have had access to,” McNeil explained.
McNeil added that Phoenix Ikner was a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office youth advisory council.
“So he has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have,” McNeil continued. “So it’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.”
‘Kidnapped’ by his mother
Court records show Ikner was originally named Christian Eriksen, and he changed his name following a years-long custody battle between his parents.
As part of a plea agreement in that kidnapping case, the birth mother was ordered to have no contact with Ikner.
News 6 Investigator Mike DeForest delved into those court records, and you can find more on that story HERE.
Time at Florida State University
Ikner studied political science at FSU.
While not confirmed to be the same person, an FSU political science student by the name of Phoenix Ikner was quoted in an article by FSUNews covering local protests of President Donald Trump’s agenda and FSU policies ahead of Trump’s inauguration.
“These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,” the quote reads. “I think it’s a little too late, (Trump’s) already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, and there’s not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”
According to Florida voting records, Ikner registered as a Republican.
News 6 is working to learn more about Ikner and his background.