Florida State Alumni Speak Out After Tragic Campus Shooting Shocks Community
Sarah Johnson
April 18, 2025
Brief
A deadly shooting at Florida State University leaves two dead and six injured, prompting campus mourning, event cancellations, and strong support from notable FSU sports alumni.
The Florida State University community is reeling after a deadly shooting rocked the campus on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and six injured. News of the tragedy quickly spread far beyond Tallahassee, drawing emotional reactions from some of FSU’s most prominent sports alumni.
LIV Golf standout Brooks Koepka, NFL star Jared Verse, and New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis were among those who voiced their support and condolences for the Seminole family. The pain was palpable, and the solidarity from these athletes showed just how deep school pride runs—even when the headlines are this grim.
The violence erupted around 11:50 a.m. Authorities later identified the shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a current FSU student. In a detail that sent a chill down my spine, police confirmed Ikner used his mother’s weapon in the attack—she’s a deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The two people killed were not students at FSU, and Ikner was hospitalized after police intervened.
In response, FSU canceled all classes through Friday, along with all home athletic events through the weekend. That means no baseball showdown against Virginia, no softball series with Georgia Tech, and the last two spring football practices are off the table. I can only imagine the disappointment for student-athletes who’ve been training all year, but these are the kinds of decisions no one ever wants to have to make.
FSU President Richard McCullough called the shooting "a tragic and senseless act of violence." In a statement, he urged the community to grieve together and lean on each other, reminding everyone: "We are Florida State. We are family. And we stand together."
As the campus mourns and authorities continue to investigate, the Seminole spirit is being tested in ways it never should have to be. But if the outpouring from alumni is any sign, this community won’t be facing its darkest days alone.
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Editor's Comments
It’s wild how tragedy can unite a campus faster than any football victory. The fact that the shooter used his mom’s service weapon? That’s a gut punch for anyone who believes in keeping schools safe. Sometimes the stories hidden in the background—like the canceled games and practices—remind us that life’s routines get shattered in an instant, and healing is the only game left to play.
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