1. Chaos at Lunchtime
“I thought it was fireworks until people started screaming,” an FSU sophomore told me via DM. On April 17, 2025, gunfire erupted near the student union, turning a routine school day into a nightmare.
2. The Shooter’s Troubled Past
Phoenix Ikner, 20, was:
✔️ An FSU computer science major
✔️ Son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy
✔️ Former member of the Sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council
Court records reveal a custody battle and a legal name change (from Christian Eriksen).
3. How Did He Get the Guns?
Ikner used:
- His mother’s retired service handgun (legally kept at home)
- A shotgun (origin unclear)
This reignites debates about law enforcement families’ firearm storage.
4. Campus Fallout
✅ Classes canceled through 4/18
✅ Sports events postponed until 4/20
✅ Vigil held at Landis Green
5. My Take: Systemic Failures
Having covered 3 campus shootings this year, I see recurring issues:
⚠️ Gun Access: Should retired police weapons require special locks?
⚠️ Mental Health: Ikner’s childhood trauma went unaddressed
⚠️ Response Time: Did FSU’s alert system work optimally?
6. What’s Next?
- Motive investigation (early reports suggest personal grievances)
- Potential lawsuits against the sheriff’s office
- Florida lawmakers’ response (or lack thereof)
