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THE gunman who allegedly opened fire at the student union building at Florida State University has been identified as the son of a sheriff’s deputy.
Phoenix Ikner, a student at the university, allegedly used one of his mother’s firearms in Thursday’s bloodbath that left two dead and five others injured.
“Unfortunately, he had access to one of her weapons,” Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said, referring to the suspect’s mother.
McNeil said the sheriff’s department was heartbroken to learn Ikner was allegedly a man who had grown up in their office and been a member of their youth program.
“He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” the sheriff said before adding he was “not surprised” that the student had access to weapons.
“This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law enforcement perspective,” McNeil added.
“But I will tell you this, we will make sure we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation.
McNeil said Ikner is in custody and at the hospital getting treatment.
The sheriff added that the alleged shooter’s condition is unknown.
The two victims have not been named, but Leon County Sheriff officials said they were not students.
Deputies responded to Florida State University shortly after 12 pm on Thursday for a reported shooting at the campus’ student union facility.
Sheriff officials arrived at the chaotic scene to students running for their lives and desperately trying to find cover from reported gunshots.