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THE accused Florida State University shooter shared a chilling post about war and was thrown out of a school club for vile comments before allegedly opening fire on campus.
Phoenix Ikner, 20, was arrested on Thursday after he killed two people and wounded six others in a sick attack, cops say.
Ikner is the son of Jessica Ikner, a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy, and allegedly used one of her guns during the massacre.
The 20-year-old was shot by police officers after refusing to comply with police’s commands, according to the Tallahassee police chief.
Now, screenshots of a private Instagram account with the student’s name are being spread online.
A chilling Bible passage mentioning a “weapon for battle” is featured in the student’s bio.
The bio reads: “Jeremiah 51:20 ‘You are my war club, my weapon for battle; with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms.'”
The FSU student was majoring in political science, and had a reputation around campus for spreading “nazi” speech.
Ikner was a member of the political round table but was asked not to return after allegedly spreading hateful comments.
Reid Seybold, who was the president of the club, said the suspect repeated “white supremacist rhetoric.”
“Basically our only rule was no Nazis — colloquially speaking — and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric, and far-right rhetoric, as well, to the point where we had to exercise that rule,” Seybold told NBC News.
Other FSU students claimed that Ikner was argumentative with others and often cause heated debates in class
“I got into arguments with him in class over how gross the things he said were,” FSU politics student Lucas Luzietti told USA Today.
The Tallahassee State College student took a federal politics course with Ikner in 2023, where the suspect would allegedly propagate right-wing conspiracy theories.
Luzietti claimed that Ikner once said that “Rosa Parks was in the wrong,” and that Joe Biden came into office illegally.
“I remember thinking this man should not have access to firearms,” Luzietti said.
“What are you supposed to do? His mother was a cop, and Florida doesn’t have very strong red flag laws.”
Red flag laws allow people concerned about another person’s mental state to petition to remove any weapons from their home.
Ikner reportedly had few friends in the politics class he shared with Luzietti.
FSU shooting timeline
- 12:01 pm: An active shooter was first reported by the FSU student union, police are on their way
- 12:19 pm: FSU confirmed police were on the scene and instructed students to shelter in place
- 12:45 pm: A video is shared of students and faculty walking through campus with their hands up
- 12:58 pm: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare confirmed they are treating those injured in the shooting
- 1:01 pm: FBI confirmed agents are on campus investigating the shooting
- 1:04 pm: FSU notified students that law enforcement is clearing rooms on the main campus
- 1:45 pm: Leon County school district instructs high schoolers to stay away from FSU’s campus
- 1:48 pm: Donald Trump says he has been ‘fully briefed’ on the situation
- 1:50 pm: The Associated Press initially reports that six victims are in the hospital and a suspect has been apprehended
- 2:44 pm: FSU classes and campus activities are canceled through April 18. Students are allowed to return to residence halls, but are otherwise told to stay in place
- 3:20 pm: FSU confirms that law enforcement has neutralized the threat and lifts stay-in-place order
- 3:51 pm: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House and Carraway buildings are closed
The suspect’s classmate said he wasn’t surprised to find out Ikner was the suspected gunman.
“[The shooting] is so sad and so shocking,” Luzietti said.
“Then to see that it was him — I’m sadly not surprised.”
Ikner also served on the sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council, which was made to “provide an open line of communication between the youth of Leon County and local law enforcement.”
Kenniyah Houston, who is a member of the sheriff’s youth council, said she was stunned to learn that Ikner was the shooter.
Houston said that the council is all about “making better decisions.”
“For something like this to happen from someone in a group like that is scary … it’s devastating,” she told CNN.
COMMUNITY MOURNS
FSU President Richard McCullough addressed the university’s students and staff about the “tragic and senseless act of violence.”
“We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends and loved ones of those who were lost,” McCullough said in a statement.
“We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting.”
The president said the school is in constant contact with law enforcement since the shooting began at 12 pm on Thursday.
“Right now, our focus is on taking care of people. That means the victims and their families,” he continued.
“It means students, faculty, and staff who were nearby and are now trying to make sense of what they experienced. And it means every person in our campus community who is feeling shaken or overwhelmed.”
FSU President Richard McCullough full statement
Dear FSU community,
Today, we experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus.
At lunchtime, an active shooter opened fire at the Student Union. Two were killed. Six others were injured.
We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost. We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting.
I’ve been in constant contact with our law enforcement and emergency teams since the incident began. The FSU Police Department, along with the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Highway Patrol, responded immediately and decisively. FSU Police contained the threat and prevented even greater tragedy. I am grateful for their courage and professionalism.
Right now, our focus is on taking care of people. That means the victims and their families. It means students, faculty, and staff who were nearby and are now trying to make sense of what they experienced. And it means every person in our campus community who is feeling shaken or overwhelmed.
We are working closely with our leadership, law enforcement, and mental health professionals to ensure that everyone has the support they need. If you’re struggling, please reach out to our Counseling & Psychological Services team at (850) 644-TALK (8255). You are not alone.
There will be more updates in the days ahead, and more time to reflect and heal. But now, we mourn together. We lean on one another. And we remember who we are. We are Florida State. We are family. And we stand together.
Sincerely,
Richard McCullough President
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs put aside the two schools’ rivalry to share his condolences with the FSU community.
“I join everyone at the University of Florida in sending our most caring thoughts and deepest sympathies to the Florida State University family,” Fuchs wrote on X.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by the shootings and their loved ones.”
