Crime
Victims in FSU Shooting Identified as Aramark Employee and Campus Dining Services Employee
All surviving victims are expected to make a full recovery.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is continuing to treat several victims following the mass shooting on the Florida State University campus that left two people dead and six others wounded on Thursday.
Hospital officials confirmed that patients were admitted with gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, with three individuals requiring surgical intervention.
As of 9 a.m. Friday, two patients were expected to be discharged, while three others were reported to be in improving condition.
One patient remains in fair condition.
All surviving victims are expected to make a full recovery.
The two individuals killed in the incident were identified as food service workers. One of the victims, Robert Morales, was a campus dining employee originally from Miami-Dade County.
Morales, who had worked at FSU since 2015, is survived by his wife and daughter.
His family issued a statement via social media: “Today we lost my younger brother. He was one of the victims killed at FSU. He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful wife and daughter.”
The second deceased victim was an employee of Aramark, the university’s food services contractor.
The individual’s name has not yet been publicly released.
In a statement, an Aramark spokesperson expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
“We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence. We are absolutely shaken by the news, and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community.”
Hospital leadership also acknowledged the community’s support:
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support for our emergency, trauma, and nursing teams. We are honored to be the hospital providing care to these patients,” TMH stated.
The suspected gunman, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Ikner, a Florida State University student, is the son of a veteran deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said he used one of his stepmother’s firearms during the shooting.
In a press release issued Friday morning, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell described the attack as a “heinous and despicable act of violence.”
“Our hearts are with the victims, families, students, and larger Florida State University community in the wake of this tragedy,” Revell said. “Sadly, two adult males were killed, and five others were injured by gunfire. An eighth individual sustained injuries while attempting to flee. The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, remains in custody, and the investigation remains active. We are committed to bringing justice to the victims.”
The university announced it will host a candlelight vigil Friday evening at Langford Green to honor the victims.
In addition, mental health and counseling resources will be available to students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Askew Student Life Center.
Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive for the shooting.
Crime
2 Christian County deputies killed in the line of duty, suspect Richard Bird also dead
The name of the second deputy has not yet been publicly released pending family notification.
Christian County, Mo. — A massive multi-agency manhunt in Christian County has ended with the suspect dead, but not before claiming the lives of two sheriff’s deputies and injuring two others.
According to Brad Cole, the suspect, Richard Bird, was shot and killed by law enforcement officers early Tuesday morning near the roundabout on State Highway 160 close to Reeds Spring.
Authorities confirmed that two deputies with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office were killed in the line of duty during the operation.
One of the fallen deputies has been identified as 30-year-old Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.
The name of the second deputy has not yet been publicly released pending family notification.
In addition to the two fatalities, one Christian County deputy and one deputy from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office were wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
Sheriff Cole stated that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The violence began around 4:00 p.m. Monday when a Christian County deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of State Highway 160 and Route HH, south of Highlandville.
During that stop, Deputy Ramirez was fatally shot, prompting a Blue Alert and a large-scale manhunt for Bird.
After Bird’s vehicle was located abandoned, officers from across the Ozarks converged on the area. Sheriff Cole said approximately 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers participated in the search effort, along with federal partners including the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the ATF.
The search continued for hours into the early morning. A helicopter operated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol detected a moving heat signature in a wooded area near Reeds Spring. As deputies approached the location, Bird reportedly opened fire. Law enforcement officers returned fire, fatally striking the suspect and ending the threat.
While the suspect was neutralized, the outcome has left the community in mourning. Two deputies lost their lives in the line of duty, and two others were injured.
Sheriff Cole described the loss as devastating for the department and the broader community. Families of the fallen deputies are now grieving, and colleagues across multiple agencies are reflecting on the risks law enforcement officers face daily.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing as authorities continue to process the scene and review the circumstances surrounding the shootings.