August 2, 2025 – A tragic mass shooting rocked Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on April 17, 2025, claiming the lives of two individuals and injuring six others. The incident, which unfolded near the Student Union around 11:50 a.m., has left the campus community reeling and reignited national debates over gun violence and campus safety.
The Incident
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, opened fire using a handgun that belonged to his stepmother, a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. Ikner, who was also injured after being shot by police, was taken into custody and hospitalized. The two victims killed were Robert Morales, 57, FSU’s dining coordinator and a local high school football coach, and Tiru Chabba, 45, a father of two from Greenville, South Carolina, who was on campus as an employee of a vendor. Neither victim was a student. Five of the six injured were shot, while one was hurt while fleeing; all are expected to recover, with five released from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare by April 24.
The shooting began just before noon, prompting an immediate lockdown and an FSU Alert warning of an “active shooter.” Students described chaotic scenes, with some barricading doors and others fleeing the Student Union. “I heard about 12 shots go off… then I saw people running,” said student Blake Leonard. Another student, Madison Askins, 23, survived by playing dead after being shot.
Suspect and Motive
Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, had access to his stepmother’s former service weapon, which she had purchased for personal use. Sheriff Walter McNeil noted Ikner’s involvement in the sheriff’s youth advisory council, stating, “It’s not a surprise he had access to weapons.” Reports indicate Ikner espoused white supremacist views, having been removed from a political club at Tallahassee State College for his rhetoric. Authorities have not confirmed a motive, and Ikner, who was shot in the face by police, has invoked his right to remain silent.
Community and Official Response
FSU canceled classes through April 18 and sporting events through the weekend, resuming normal operations on April 21. A vigil held on April 18 at Langford Green drew thousands to honor the victims. President Richard McCullough called the shooting a “tragic and senseless act of violence,” emphasizing support for the community. Students expressed outrage over the quick return to classes, with some taking to social media to voice their trauma: “I ran for my life and now I have to go back a few days later?”
Governor Ron DeSantis vowed to bring the shooter to justice, while President Donald Trump, briefed on the incident, commented, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do,” signaling resistance to new gun control measures. The shooting has also drawn attention from Parkland survivors, some of whom are FSU students and experienced their second school shooting. Fred Guttenberg, a gun control advocate whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland massacre, wrote on X, “America is broken.”
Broader Context
This was Florida’s sixth mass shooting in 2025, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting 80 nationwide by mid-April, compared to 502 for all of 2024. FSU has faced prior shootings, including a 2014 incident at Strozier Library and a 2018 hot yoga studio shooting that killed an FSU student. The recurrence of gun violence has fueled student-led marches demanding action against hate groups and stronger gun policies.
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
The Tallahassee Police Department, alongside the FBI, continues to investigate, with no known connection between Ikner and the victims. The campus remains shaken, with memorials of flowers and chalk messages dotting the grounds. As the community mourns, calls for reform grow louder, particularly in light of Florida’s recent push to lower the gun purchase age to 18, a move critics argue could exacerbate such tragedies.
For the latest updates, visit www.fsu.edu or follow local authorities on X.