• 11 a.m. Ikner arrived at the FSU parking garage, where he stayed for close to an hour before walking toward the student union. 11:56 a.m. Ikner left the garage.
• 11:57 a.m. He opened fire with his handgun indiscriminately at people.
• 11:58 a.m. The shooting was reported to 911
• 12:02 p.m. – Florida State University issues an emergency alert reporting an active shooter near the Student Union. Students, faculty, and staff are instructed to shelter in place.
• 12:19 p.m. – A follow-up alert confirms that police are actively responding. The shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
• 12:39 p.m. – A third alert reaffirms the shelter-in-place directive and confirms continued police activity at the Student Union.
• 2:44 p.m. – FSU announces that law enforcement is clearing rooms and introduces the safe word “SEMINOLE.” The university cancels all classes and business operations through Friday, April 18, and suspends athletic events in Tallahassee through Sunday.
• 3:18 p.m. — Authorities declare the threat neutralized. However, the Student Union and surrounding buildings remain active crime scenes. The public is advised to avoid the area.
• 3:45 p.m. – The following buildings are currently CLOSED as they are still an active crime scene: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House, and Carraway. Individuals should not return to these buildings to retrieve personal property at this time. They are free to move about other areas of campus. Individuals who may have witnessed anything of value should call 850-891-4987.
• 3:51 p.m. – The following buildings are currently CLOSED as they are still an active crime scene: Student Union, Bellamy, HCB Classroom Building, Rovetta A&B, Moore Auditorium, Shaw, Pepper, Hecht House, and Carraway. Individuals should not return to these buildings to retrieve personal property at this time. Individuals are free to move about other areas of campus. Individuals who may have witnessed anything of value should call 850-891-4987
• 4:30 p.m. – Press conference, officials said there were a total of nine victims: two people were killed, while six people and the gunman were hospitalized. “Out of respect for patient privacy and to ensure accurate information, we will provide updates as soon as they are available,” The hospital said all patients were in fair condition.

University Response and Cancellations Florida State University canceled all classes and business operations on its main Tallahassee campus through Friday, April 18. All athletic events in Tallahassee were also canceled through Sunday, April 20. Students were allowed to return to their residence halls but were asked to remain indoors. Those who chose to leave campus for the weekend were permitted to do so. Students requiring support services were directed to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, where the university provided access to counseling, medical care, and other resources. Family members seeking information or assistance were also advised to visit the Civic Center.

TPD is continuing to interview witnesses and victims following the shootings as this remains an open and active investigation. The FBI has established a digital tips media line where you can upload photos and videos, which is accessible at  www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact TPD at 850-891-4200. To remain anonymous, call Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.

Law enforcement officers confronted Ikner at the scene. After he failed to comply with commands, he was shot and taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries.

McNeil stated that the young man had previously participated in the department’s youth programs. The weapon used in the attack was identified as the former service firearm of his step-mother, now classified as her handgun. It was recovered at the scene.

Sheriff McNeil stated that his office will conduct a thorough investigation into how the suspect accessed his mother’s firearm and will determine whether any disciplinary actions, including suspensions or terminations, are warranted. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell added that, at this time, there is no indication the shooter acted with accomplices, and there are no ongoing threats to the community.

After the shooting, police recovered an AR-15 style rifle, in addition to the .45 caliber pistol and shotgun recovered at the scene, inside the car Phoenix Ikner drove to campus. The vehicle was registered to the suspected gunman’s father. The multiple firearms indicate to investigators he may have been prepared to shoot more people had he not been confronted by law enforcement.

During the initial investigation, detectives learned that the suspected gunman suffered from emotional dysregulation for which he had been prescribed medication. Investigators were told during interviews with family members that he had stopped taking some of his prescribed medication.

• August 2004 Christian Gunnar Eriksen, aka Phoenix Ikner, was born in Tallahassee, Florida.
• 2006 – A custody case begins when Phoenix is about 2 years old. Leon County court records start around this time.
• 2007 – Phoenix’s parents, Christopher Ikner and Anne-Mari Eriksen, agree to shared custody.
• 2009 – Christopher Ikner seeks to modify the custody agreement, alleging Phoenix was left in poor hygiene and was not receiving proper speech therapy. Eriksen disputes the allegations, attributing issues to Phoenix’s health problems.
• March 2015—Anne-Mari Eriksen takes Phoenix, then 10, to Norway during spring break without the court’s permission. According to Christopher Ikner, Phoenix was told he was going to Disney World.
• June 2015 – A Norwegian court orders Phoenix to be returned to Florida. Christopher Ikner and his wife, Jessica, traveled to Norway, located Phoenix with the help of Norwegian police, and brought him back to the U.S.
• July 2015 – Phoenix returns to Florida.
• Late 2015 – Eriksen is charged in Florida with removing a minor in violation of a court order.
  She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in jail, 2 years of community control, 2 years of probation, and no contact with Phoenix or his caregivers during her sentence unless permitted by the court.
• February 2017 – A judge awards sole parental responsibility to Christopher Ikner.
• June 2020 – Phoenix, 15, petitions to legally change his name from Christian Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner. The magistrate praises Phoenix’s maturity, intelligence, and NJROTC involvement during the court hearing. The name change is granted. The judge notes Phoenix’s former name is a “constant reminder” of the 2015 incident and estrangement from his mother.
• 2021, Ikner joined the county’s youth advisory council  Link
• 2022 Ikner Graduate of Lincoln High School
• 2023 – Anne-Mari Eriksen writes in a court filing that she has not seen her son in eight years (since 2015).
• December 2024 – Phoenix earns an associate’s degree from Tallahassee State College.
• Spring 2025 – Transferred to Florida State University (FSU) as a junior political science major.
• Early 2025 – Quoted in FSU’s student newspaper during campus protests: “These people are usually pretty entertaining… I don’t think anyone wants [a revolt].” Once the protesters reached the Integration Statue, Florida State University Police Department (FSUPD) officers stood on guard, and groups of onlookers began to form. “These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,” Phoenix Ikner, a political science major, said. “I think it’s a little too late, he’s [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there’s not much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”  Link

April 2025 – A shooting occurs at Florida State University (FSU), where Phoenix is a student. Following the incident, Eriksen posted on Facebook that Phoenix’s father had ignored her inquiry about his safety.

April 18, 2025

• Vigil held by FSU Students
• Jessica Ikner, step-mother of the FSU shooter, requested and was granted personal leave and was also transferred to the property crimes unit due to the circumstances of the situation. She previously served as a school resource officer.