Crime
Florida State University shooting suspect identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner
Authorities have identified the suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of longtime Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
During an afternoon press conference, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed that Phoenix Ikner was responsible for opening fire near the university’s Student Union Building, killing two individuals and injuring six others.
The incident unfolded around 11:50 a.m. on April 17, when the gunman began shooting on the university’s main campus in Tallahassee.
“FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter,” Trumbower said. Ikner, believed to be an FSU student, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital following the incident.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell detailed the law enforcement response, stating that officers confronted Ikner and opened fire when he failed to comply with commands.
He was subsequently subdued and taken for medical treatment.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that the suspect is the son of Deputy Jessica Ikner, a veteran of the department with over 18 years of service.
“She has performed her duties with distinction,” McNeil stated, expressing support for Deputy Ikner during what he described as a devastating moment for her and the department.
Investigators revealed that the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun previously issued to Deputy Ikner before she transitioned to a new service weapon.
It was reportedly her personal firearm. Authorities also found a shotgun in Ikner’s possession at the scene, though it remains unclear whether it was discharged during the attack.
“We are continuing to investigate the role each weapon may have played and whether the suspect had access to additional firearms,” McNeil said.
Chief Revell added that Phoenix Ikner had been a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and had participated in several law enforcement-related programs over the years.
“It’s not surprising to us that he had some level of access to firearms given his history within the agency’s youth programs,” Revell stated.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Authorities noted that Ikner has so far refused to cooperate with investigators or provide any explanation for his actions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting in the investigation and has requested that anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information or media uploads related to the incident submit tips through their official website at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.
FSU remains under heightened security as law enforcement continues to process the scene and gather evidence.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.