The suspect in the Florida State University shooting reportedly shared “white supremacist views” with concerned classmates before yesterday’s attack that killed two people and injured six others.
Phoenix Ikner had a tumultuous childhood, according to court records showing the biological mother of the 20-year-old was accused of removing him from the U.S. when he was 10.
He later changed his name from Christian Eriksen to share the surname of his mother, Leon County Deputy Jessica Ikner, whose former service weapon he used during the shooting, police said.
His biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, told ABC News on Friday that she initially worried he might have been hurt; when he was named a suspect, she “collapsed.”
"There’s so much that needs to be said about this, but I just can’t talk without crying. We need time to process all this,” she said.
Following the attack, a classmate at Ikner’s former school claimed the suspect was told to leave a “political round table” club after he “espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric, and far-right rhetoric as well, to the point where we had to exercise that rule.”
Once Ikner is released from the hospital, where he is expected to be for a while, he’ll be “taken to a local detention facility where he will face the charges up to and including first-degree murder,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Friday.
Investigators had not revealed a motive as of Friday evening or released the victims’ identities, but some family members have come forward.
The two victims who lost their lives were identified Friday as Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales. Both men were fathers.
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Here's a full breakdown of what we know about the victims:
What we know about the victims killed at Florida State University
All of the victims were being treated at Florida’s Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, having been rushed there in serious conditions as the attack unfolded
For more on the suspected shooter, here’s what we know:
What we know about suspected Florida State University shooter Phoenix Ikner
Political science major, 20, the son of a local sheriff’s deputy, arrested after attack on Tallahassee campus that left two people dead and six more injured
Kelly Rissman19 April 2025 00:01
Suspect in custody - report
A suspect is in custody following reports of an active shooter at FSU, according to CNN.
The network cited two law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 18:19
Pictured: Students wait for news following active shooter alert
Florida State University students wait for news after reports of an active shooter incident at the school’s Tallahassee campus.
A suspect is in custody, according to a report.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 18:27
Florida officials respond to active shooter reports
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials have reacted to the news of an active shooter at FSU today.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 18:35
Number of injured being treated in hospital rises to six, with one in critical condition - report
The number of people being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has risen to six, MSNBC reports.
One is reported to be in a critical condition.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 18:50
Trump responds to shooting - 'It's a horrible thing'
President Donald Trump has reacted to the shooting at FSU.
“Thank you very much everybody, and I've been briefed on the Florida State University, Tallahassee, active shooting,” Trump said in the Oval Office Thursday.
“I guess it's an active shooter fully briefed as to where we are right now. It's a shame, horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place, and we'll have more to say about it later.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House is actively monitoring the situation.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 18:55
'Every parent's worst nightmare' - Florida House Speaker
Florida Speaker of the House Rep. Danny Perez said today’s incident was “every parent’s worst nightmare” in a social media post.
Rhian Lubin17 April 2025 19:00
FSU student describes seeing ' nothing but blue lights'
Florida State University student Daniella Streety described seeing “nothing but blue lights from the police presence” and long lines of students with their hands raised being evacuated from the campus.
“I did see them carry out one student in what looked like on a stretcher and kept them in the road until an ambulance was able to pick them up,” she told NBC.
“Directly across from me there’s a building about 50 feet outside of the window. … There was a student injured there as well and they had to transport them in a desk chair to the road to then be transported via ambulance.”
Mike Bedigan17 April 2025 19:06
Watch: Live from Florida State University campus
Mike Bedigan17 April 2025 19:14
Tallahassee Police Department says one suspect in custody
A spokesperson for the Tallahassee Police Department confirmed to NBC News that authorities have one suspect is in custody.
No additional information was provided but a media briefing is scheduled for later on Thursday afternoon.
Mike Bedigan17 April 2025 19:22
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