A gunman opened fire at Florida State University on Thursday, killing two people and injuring four others before being shot by police. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County deputy sheriff.
The shooting occurred just before noon near the student union in Tallahassee, prompting lockdowns across campus. Ikner, believed to be a student at FSU, was taken into custody after refusing to surrender. He remains hospitalised with gunshot wounds.
Officials say Ikner used a handgun that once belonged to his mother, a former service weapon she had purchased from the department. “Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons that was found at the scene,” said Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil during a press briefing.
FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed that the two people killed were not students. Details about the four injured individuals were not immediately released.
The attack sent shockwaves through the campus of over 42,000 students. Witnesses described scenes of panic. “People started running. She just got trampled,” said Chris Pento, who was touring the university with his children.
Student Max Jenkins said the gunman fired several shots after leaving the student union. “There’s a golf cart over here with a bullet hole in it,” he added.
Authorities said Ikner may have also brought a shotgun onto campus, though it remains unclear whether it was used.
This is the second shooting on FSU’s campus in just over a decade. In 2014, a gunman wounded three people at the university’s main library.
Thursday’s violence is part of a broader trend of mass shootings at U.S. colleges. In 2023 alone, deadly incidents were recorded at Michigan State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Classes were suspended at FSU, and investigations are ongoing. A motive has not yet been determined.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May),...
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secre...
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as t...
At least 22 people have been killed - including children - and 35 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan returnees overturned in eastern Afghani...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Asian allies to increase military spending, warning of growing concern over China’s rapid military exp...
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 20th May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
Two teenage gunmen opened fire on Monday at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, killing a security guard and two other men outside the mosque before the suspects were found dead, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Asian allies to increase military spending, warning of growing concern over China’s rapid military expansion and wider activities in the region.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Three Latvian climbers have died after falling on Mount McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, authorities and a Latvian climbing organisation have said
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 30 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment