Inside the FSU Campus Massacre: 2 Dead, 6 Injured, and a Family Torn Apart
A Florida college student opened fire at Florida State University, killing two people and injuring six more in a midday campus shooting that has stunned a community and ignited urgent questions about mental health, gun access, and white supremacy.
From Sheriff's Program to Suspected Mass Killer
Phoenix Ikner, 20, arrived on FSU's main Tallahassee campus just before noon on April 17, reportedly armed with a handgun once issued to his stepmother — Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner. Within minutes, he had opened fire near the student union, killing dining coordinator Robert Morales, 57, and Aramark executive Tiru Chabba, 45, and wounding five others. A sixth person was hurt fleeing the scene.
Ikner was shot in the jaw by campus police and was hospitalized under guard, facing charges up to and including first-degree murder.
'Rotten Bastard People': Grandmother Speaks Out
The shooter's maternal grandmother, Susan Eriksen, didn't mince words. In an interview with The Daily Mail, she blamed her grandson's father and stepmother for his radicalization.
"They taught him how to hunt, they're bigoted people, they hated a lot of people," she told The Daily Mail, accusing them of filling Phoenix with hate before the attack.
Ikner's biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, lost custody in 2015 after taking him overseas without permission. She told The Daily Mail, "I'm just as shocked as everybody else."
Troubling Beliefs, Ignored Warnings
Multiple classmates have said they were disturbed by Ikner's behavior long before the shooting. Students described him as a white supremacist who was removed from a political club for spouting hate speech. Screenshots later revealed that he admired Hitler and had used Nazi references in online gaming profiles.
Despite his history, Ikner trained with law enforcement as a teen and even sat on the Leon County Sheriff's Youth Advisory Council in high school.
A Community in Mourning — and Protest
Tiru Chabba's funeral in South Carolina drew over 200 mourners, including colleagues from Aramark. Robert Morales, a former high school football coach, is also remembered as a beloved figure on campus.
Students have since protested on campus, demanding that FSU do more to prevent extremism and gun violence. Tensions rose further when a student protester was reportedly arrested during a rally for using a bullhorn.
As of now, the motive for the shooting remains officially unknown, as police and prosecutors continue piecing together what happened — and what signs were missed.
References: Grandma of Alleged FSU Shooter Calls His Parents 'Rotten Bastard People' After Deadly Campus Shooting | Raging grandma's blistering three-word blast at her ex son-in-law and his cop wife after FSU shooter grandson 'killed two' | Suspected FSU gunman was shot in jaw by police during incident and remains hospitalized, officials say | FSU shooting Friday updates: Tiru Chabba funeral, student protester arrested, more | 'It's all about what was known and when': Will the mother of FSU shooting suspect face charges?
