One suspect has been taken into custody after a capturing that left two victims lifeless and 6 injured at Florida State College’s scholar union on Thursday, regulation enforcement officers mentioned in a press briefing.
The suspect, who was recognized as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old FSU scholar and the son of a college useful resource deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Division, has additionally been hospitalized. He was shot by police after he “didn’t adjust to instructions,” in keeping with Tallahassee Police Division chief Lawrence E. Revell.
The 2 deceased victims weren’t college students, Revell mentioned, however he couldn’t share some other details about the victims’ identities.
FSU president Richard McCullough referred to as this a “tragic day for Florida State College” on the briefing.
“We’re working to assist the victims, the households and everybody affected,” he mentioned.
FSU college students and staff acquired an emergency notification at 12:02 p.m. to shelter in place as a result of an lively shooter close to the campus’s scholar union. In line with Revell, FSU campus police arrived on the scene “virtually instantly” after the capturing started simply earlier than midday. Different native regulation enforcement companies, together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jacksonville subject workplace and its Tallahassee suboffice, have been concerned within the response to the capturing. The Tallahassee police will lead the investigation.
Over three hours later, police notified the campus that that they had “neutralized the risk” however requested the general public to proceed avoiding the coed union and the encircling space. College students have been suggested to stay indoors besides to stroll to their dorms or the designated reunification level.
Revell mentioned the handgun Ikner used was his mom’s former service weapon. The suspect additionally had a shotgun with him, Revell mentioned, however it was unclear if he had used it. Revell mentioned the police didn’t but know of any motive for the capturing and that Ikner had invoked his proper to not communicate with police.
On the press briefing, McCullough mentioned he had simply returned from visiting the victims within the hospital.
“Proper now our high precedence is security and well-being for all of the folks on our campus,” he mentioned.
One FSU junior, McKenzie Heeter, advised NBC that the assailant shot at her with what she thought was a rifle as she was exiting the coed union along with her lunch simply earlier than midday, however he missed. He then returned to his automobile and retrieved a handgun and shot one other particular person, at which level Heeter started operating away from the coed union and again to her condominium.
“It was simply me and like three different those that seen at first, however we have been strolling in the other way away from the union, so we began operating. I simply advised everyone that I might see, avoid campus,” she advised NBC.
One other group of about 40 people averted the shooter by locking themselves in a bowling alley within the scholar union’s basement, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.
Courses at FSU are canceled by means of Friday, and athletic occasions are canceled by means of the tip of the weekend.
