2 Killed, 6 Injured in Florida University Shooting

A tragic shooting at Florida State University on Thursday left two people dead and six others injured, as a 20-year-old student opened fire in broad daylight using a firearm registered to his police officer mother.

The incident sparked panic across the campus and renewed national debate over gun violence in the United States.

Authorities in Tallahassee, the state capital where the shooting occurred, confirmed that the victims who died were not students at the university.

The suspect, identified as Phoenix Eikner, is a student at Florida State University (FSU) and allegedly used his mother's firearm to carry out the attack. His mother has served in the Leon County Sheriff's Office for 18 years.

Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell stated that the suspect was injured during a confrontation with law enforcement officers and has since been hospitalized. He has invoked his right to remain silent.

Eyewitness footage broadcast by CNN showed chaos and fear on the university campus, which is home to more than 40,000 students.

Videos captured the suspect calmly walking across a grassy area while firing at fleeing individuals. Multiple students reported hearing gunfire near the student union building.

One student described the harrowing moments to local news station WCTV, stating that everyone started running and within a minute, eight to ten gunshots were heard. He also reported seeing another student who had been shot in the abdomen.

Others on campus described the event as surreal and terrifying. Another student, Sam Swartz, recalled being in the lower level of the student union when the shots rang out. He said panic quickly spread, and he and a group of eight people working on a project took shelter using trash bins and boards.

In the wake of the incident, former President Donald Trump called the shooting disgraceful and horrifying. While expressing sorrow for the victims, he defended Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms, emphasizing that it is people, not guns, who commit acts of violence.