BY C STONE | STONE NEWS NETWORK ||| PHOENIX
Today at FSU, a son of a sheriff's deputy opened fire at Florida State University today, killing at least 2 people and injuring 6 others before being shot and arrested by police today.
Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the state. Chartered in 1851, it is located on Florida's oldest continuous site of higher education
First responders arrived on campus and shot the suspect, who has since been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
He is Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year old son of Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner.
From ABC NEWS:
Sheriff Walter McNeil said Phoenix had access to one of his mother's personal weapons, which was one of the weapons found at the scene. He had a handgun and a shotgun with him at the time of the shooting, officials said.
Jessica Ikner has been a deputy with the department for more than 18 years and "her service to this community has been exceptional," McNeil said.
McNeil added that the 20-year-old suspect was also a "long-standing member" of the Leon County Sheriff's Office's Youth Advisory Council.
Pheonix had been "steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family," McNeil said, adding, "It's not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons," he added.
An investigation into the motive of the deadly shooting is ongoing.
Police said during the press conference that law enforcement's response to the shooting was "massive" and "very quick."
"We are working multiple crime scenes, and there are potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses," Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police said.
Revell also said the suspect did not comply with commands before being shot by responding officers. "I do not believe he fired at officers," Revell said.
From FOX NEWS:
The shooting began at around 11:50 a.m. During a press conference later that afternoon, authorities identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at the school.
Ikner was taken to an area hospital after being "neutralized" by authorities. Police also said his mother is a sheriff's deputy with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, and said Ikner used his mother's weapon in the killing.
The suspect's mother, Jessica Ikner, has been an officer for over 18 years and authorities said she has done a "tremendous job" in her position.
"Her service to this community has been exceptional," Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said at the press conference. "Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene. And we are continuing that investigation into how that weapon was used."
The two people who were killed were not FSU students, according to authorities.
The area is still considered an active crime scene, and authorities believe that the suspect acted alone.
"There is no further threat to our community at this point," Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.
"I was getting food at the Panera and heard a group of girls saying something about a gun, right after I heard the shots and immediately started running. I ran out the back of the union and as I was running I heard more shots coming from the entrance of the union," he said.
Another student, Christopher Malave, told Fox News Digital that he was in the student union when the shooting began.
"Thanks to the Lord, I did get home safely," the meteorology student said. "I've just been trying to recuperate, collect my thoughts these past couple hours."
"I truly do believe that God protected me today, and I'm really just blessed that, all things considered, I'm all in one piece. My friends are safe, I'm safe, and I'm just super blessed all things considered."
Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., said that her office was in touch with FSU leadership about the situation.
"I am praying for the safety of the students, faculty and all first responders involved," Moody wrote.
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