Previous peers and a new record claim that the shooter who opened fire on Florida State University, killing two and injuring six individuals, had a history of propagating white nationalist ideas.
Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old undergraduate and the son of a prosecutor’s assistant, allegedly had vile and disconcerting sights while he was a student at Tallahassee State College before transferring to FSU. According to former students, Felix frequently pushed prejudiced theories, including that Rosa Parks had been “in the wrong” and that Black citizens were destroying his neighborhood.
Previous student Reid Seybold told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was essentially our only rule and that he espoused far-right and white nationalist language, which was the same as Ikner being asked to leave a social team on school.
Lucas Luzietti, a fellow student who studied national elections with Ikner in 2023, claimed he frequently argued with him over “gross” accusations, including open statements of ownership and conspiracy theories. Luzietti observed,” It’s so terrible and startling. Next to discover that it was him, I regrettably not be surprised.
Sheriff Walt McNeil described Ikner as being profoundly involved in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s children advisory committee and as a member of their training programs. It’s not surprising to us that he had access to weapons, McNeil said, noting that Ikner’s family, a retired lieutenant, had the tool in the assault.
Students were frantically searching for protection after the shooting, which started outside the student union on Thursday afternoon around noon. ” All was crying and only panicking,” Carolina Sena, who was inside the building at the time when shots rang out, said. In a small corner of the floor, we were attempting to blockade ourselves.
Witnesses described the conflict as Ikner reportedly began shooting with a gun after his pistol allegedly jammed. ” I got happy now. Aidan Stickney, a student, just avoided being shot, said,” I really, truly did”.
Ikner was shot by responding officials after refusing to drop his crossbow, and he is still in the hospital with severe but non-life-threatening injury. Authorities confirmed that the survivors weren’t FSU individuals.
Trump reaffirmed his criticism to stricter gun laws while making a comment about the incident, calling it” a hideous thing.” The firing was characterized as a” dreadful day for Florida State University,” according to University President Richard McCullough.
