FL -- FSU shooting, 2 dead 6 injured, shooter apprehended, Tallahassee campus. 17 April 2025.

[Sundog]

Documents reveal early life, previous name of accused FSU shooter

Court documents reveal Phoenix Ikner, accused in the FSU mass shooting, was taken to Norway by his biological mother in 2015, leading to her arrest.

www.firstcoastnews.com

In 2015, Eriksen [biological mother of Phoenix Ikner] was arrested on a kidnapping charge after she violated her custody agreement and took Ikner with her to Norway without permission. An affidavit for her arrest shows she told Ikner's father she was taking him to South Florida and then "fled the country with him."

Ikner's father told police that his son "has developmental delays and has special needs which he feared would not be taken care of." The document later identifies that Ikner was on medication for a growth hormone disorder and ADHD. The affidavit says that Ikner's mother failed to have him in school for testing, missed doctor's appointments and failed to administer his medications while he was in Norway.

ETA info in parentheses

 

[PrairieWind]

I don't think he has serious mental health issues. He has serious ideological issues. The fact that local LE speak highly of him and he openly espouses these ideas speaks volumes about how he interacts with others. No one is saying that he has had serious problems beyond his ideological statements and a refusal to tone them down. Of course, this is MHO.

He apparently has some diagnosed issues actually and then throw in his mother kidnapping him and taking him out of the country would lead to possible PTSD issues. I'd say we need to wait to see how that plays in to this.

 

[branmuffin]

'Heinous crime': Officials count the casualties at FSU after latest U.S. mass shooting

"This is a tragic day for Florida State University," FSU President Richard McCullough said as he teared up.

www.tallahassee.com

When I worked for the OPP we had a Deputy Commissioner whose teenage son got hold of his service weapon. The father had apparently done everything right - the gun supposedly had no bullets, he'd put handcuffs through the trigger guard, it was in a safe. But the son managed to find it, the keys to the handcuffs and while fooling around with it and showing off to his friends he managed to kill his best friend. There was an thorough investigation and the officer wasn't charged with negligence. If I remember correctly, the father took early retirement. We had another guy who worked for the OPP. He wasn't a cop he was a maintenance worker, I think. His son, a teenager, would go to this guys house, someone a few years older than them who'd let them drink beer and play pool. He also had a gun, a rifle and he lets kids hold it. Except one time it was loaded and this teenager pointed it at the garage wall and the bullet went right through the wall and killed a kid sitting on a couch in the adjacent room. That guy got charged with several things. The son who delivered the shot wasn't charged. Still pretty tragic however it played out. So Ikner's mom, the deputy, may have also done the same thing as the cop above and the son still got hold of the weapon, anyway. I think part of the problem with people who own weapons they get pretty lax about the discipline. I remember a couple of years ago, this granny who was babysitting her granddaughter who was about three years old, shot and killed a home invader and everyone was commending her quick response for saving herself and her granddaughter. But she'd had that gun on a table out in plain view and the child could have picked it up at anytime and either killed her grandma or herself but that whole issue was overlooked.

 

[kaen]

He apparently has some diagnosed issues actually and then throw in his mother kidnapping him and taking him out of the country would lead to possible PTSD issues. I'd say we need to wait to see how that plays in to this.

From my perspective, there are people with many different diagnosis with many types of trauma that are guilty of crimes they committed (both adjudicated and in the court of public opinion). He is no different. There are a myriad of school shooters who had mental health issues, trauma and bad parenting that are sitting in jail. He should be no different. If he was incapable of making decisions and the family he lived with left guns available, I feel the same way that I did about the youth in Michigan and Georgia, shooter should be found guilty and his family should face any applicable chargers if he has a mental defect or serious mental health issue. Again, JMHO. If we can't get guns locked up then the shooters and their abettors are responsible if they did not due their due diligence to keep a gun out of his hands knowing that he had issues.

 

[kaen]

Millions of people have ADHD and developmental delays. Those diagnoses are not in and of themselves indicative of an inablility to make decisions or know right from wrong. He was in a university and attending classes. He joined clubs and appeared to be able to function on the campus making day to day decisions.

Sorry. I am just tired of school shooters. If people are not able to make functional decisions, they should never have access to guns. If people are exhibiting mental health crisis, laws must make it so that their access to weapons is curtailed.

Not to mention, this guy probably knew enough that this was within the days of the anniversaries of Columbine, VaTech, Oklahoma City bombing, etc. which are often days that shooters see as an homage to previous killers. These days are etched in the minds of many school shooters and killers.

 

[Sundog]

I feel for the the shooter's mother and the fact that he used her firearm. From all accounts, she has been an exemplary law enforcement officer. Tragically, however, her step-son, PI, had a history of mental health issues and endured a significant amount of trauma growing up.
This doesn't excuse what he did in any way, but as a society we need more emphasis on the mental health of our youth.

 

[arielilane]

@CatSilverTV

Reporter at @News6WKMG

Here's what we're learning today about the victims of the shooting at #FSU:

2 victims will be released today
3 now in good condition
1 fair conditionInfo above from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
We’re expecting to get an update from staff at 1:00pm.

One of the men who died has been identified as Robert Morales. He worked in dining services at FSU. I spoke with the owner of Gordos, a well-known restaurant here, and he said Morales was one of the founding members. They are "deeply saddened" by this tragedy.


12:24 PM · Apr 18, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@CatSilverTV


Robert Morales worked in dining services at FSU. I spoke with the owner of Gordos, a well-known restaurant in Tallahassee, and he said Morales was one of the founding members. They are "deeply saddened" by this tragedy.

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[vls12345]

He has serious ideological issues. The fact that local LE speak highly of him and he openly espouses these ideas speaks volumes about how he interacts with others.

Rsbm.

This.

 

[vls12345]

Students at Florida State gather at memorials, prepare to retrieve belongings after deadly shooting

When a 20-year-old opened fire at Florida State University, terrified students barricaded doors and fled across campus, abandoning chemistry notes and even shoes. Investigators say two people were killed and at least six others wounded.

apnews.com

 

[vls12345]

Live updates: Vigil planned to honor victims of FSU shooting. Here's how victims are doing

Florida State University's campus in Tallahassee is closed April 18 after a "heinous crime" took the lives of two people and left six others injured.

www.tallahassee.com

 

[vls12345]

FSU student survives shooting after losing sister in Parkland: 'Something has to change'

When gunfire broke out at Florida State University on Thursday, for some on the Tallahassee campus, the tragedy brought them back to another school shooting.

abcnews.go.com

When a gunman opened fire near the student union at Florida State University on Thursday, killing two and wounding six, for student Robbie Alhadeff, the tragedy on his Tallahassee campus brought him back to another school shooting.

Alhadeff's sister, 14-year-old Alyssa, was one of the 17 people killed in the 2018 Parkland high school massacre in South Florida.

 

[PrairieWind]

From my perspective, there are people with many different diagnosis with many types of trauma that are guilty of crimes they committed (both adjudicated and in the court of public opinion). He is no different. There are a myriad of school shooters who had mental health issues, trauma and bad parenting that are sitting in jail. He should be no different. If he was incapable of making decisions and the family he lived with left guns available, I feel the same way that I did about the youth in Michigan and Georgia, shooter should be found guilty and his family should face any applicable chargers if he has a mental defect or serious mental health issue. Again, JMHO. If we can't get guns locked up then the shooters and their abettors are responsible if they did not due their due diligence to keep a gun out of his hands knowing that he had issues.

So you don't think a person's mental capacity should be taken into account in charging or determining guilt? But at the same time, hold others responsible for other people's actions? I"m a little perplexed.

 

[vls12345]

Suspect in Florida State University shooting once had a different name: Updates

The suspected gunman was identified as Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old stepson of a local sheriff's deputy.

www.usatoday.com

 

[tlcya]

I tend to think mental health is an issue anytime a mass shooting event occurs but that is just my layman's take. It's not my job to diagnose anyone but I am sure RI's mental health is being assessed and the conversation is likely happening.

I have read things that suggest he had some pretty extreme political views. IME those with certain mental health issues tend to hyper focus on things like politics, religion, etc. I note RI is about the age where some mental health disorders become noticeable. but again, I think more info will come and then we will know if that will play a factor in his defense.

I still feel it is too early for me to think his stepmother did anything wrong in securing her weapons. All we've heard is he had access to the weapon. We've not been told he was GIVEN access. I think more info will eventually be forthcoming that helps us better understand how he was able access the weapon and then decide if someone dropped the ball in that regard and was negligent.

 

[Sundog]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/04/18/fsu-shooting-phoenix-ikner-updates/83153752007/H

It's being reported that Phoenix Ikner's parents separated when he was three years old and that the abduction by his biological mother happened when he was 10 years old. Report says that PI later described this experience as "tragic." At 15, it is reported that he wanted to change his name to his father's last name and he chose "Phoenix" as his first name as it symbolized "rising from the ashes" of his earlier life. Although his biological mother went to court to try to stop him from changing his name, a judge granted him the name change after hearing the case. The article also says that he has undergone some counseling in the past.

 

[branmuffin]

From my perspective, there are people with many different diagnosis with many types of trauma that are guilty of crimes they committed (both adjudicated and in the court of public opinion). He is no different. There are a myriad of school shooters who had mental health issues, trauma and bad parenting that are sitting in jail. He should be no different. If he was incapable of making decisions and the family he lived with left guns available, I feel the same way that I did about the youth in Michigan and Georgia, shooter should be found guilty and his family should face any applicable chargers if he has a mental defect or serious mental health issue. Again, JMHO. If we can't get guns locked up then the shooters and their abettors are responsible if they did not due their due diligence to keep a gun out of his hands knowing that he had issues.

From the sound of it, it sounds like one of the growth hormone deficiency syndromes that Ikner may have doesn't just affect stature it can alter the physiology of facial features. Those with Noonan Syndrome (NS) can have tall foreheads and short broad noses which he appears to have. I don't think NS GHD has an effect on intellectual ability. Some of the characteristics can become less noticeable as they mature. If his bio mom took him to Norway and failed to provide the medical treatment he was to take, she may have negatively and permanently altered his facial appearance that could have affected him growing up by being teased or bullied by other kids. Which could explain why he legally changed both his Christian and surname. It'll be interesting to find out whether or not either parent will be charged for giving him access to weapons. But he's 20 years old and an adult so unless he has verifiable mental health issues I don't see why the parents would be charged. IMO

 

[Tealgrove]

Read an article earlier about this shooting, some of the students at this university were in a high school shooting situation back in 2018.

Florida State shooting: At least 2 dead; 20-year-old suspect is stepson of local sheriff's deputy

The suspect is the stepson of a current Leon County sheriff's deputy, according to the sheriff.

abc7ny.com

Terrible thing for youngsters to face one time, let alone twice.
Never understood the gun laws in America.


Moo

Oh no!!!

 

[Sundog]

FSU shooting suspect has been identified. Here's what we know about him.

The FSU shooting suspect, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, was at the center of a custody battle between his birth parents, CBS News has learned.

www.cbsnews.com

According to this article, the shooter, PI, switched to special education classes in 8th grade.

 

[Betty P]

FSU shooting suspect has been identified. Here's what we know about him.

The FSU shooting suspect, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, was at the center of a custody battle between his birth parents, CBS News has learned.

www.cbsnews.com

According to this article, the shooter, PI, switched to special education classes in 8th grade.

Possibly due to ADHD. He may have been in classrooms that were noisy with too many distractions and needed an environment that was quiet and with a teacher who could make sure he stayed on task. That wouldn't be an excuse for engaging in a premeditated mass shooting, though.