Florida State shooting update: 2 dead, sheriff deputy’s son in custody

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (NBC News) -- Two people are dead and a sheriff deputy's son is in custody after an active shooter was reported at Florida State University's campus in Tallahassee.

The suspect is the 20-year-old son of a sheriff's deputy who had access to one of her weapons, according to Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.

At least six people are receiving treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, a hospital spokesperson said.

The university told students the threat to the campus has been "neutralized," but the area around the campus is considered an active crime scene.

One FSU student who saw the shooter described him as a “normal college dude" who was wearing an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts. "I was walking and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer," the student said. "And he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction."

The suspect is the 20-year-old son of a sheriff's deputy and had access to one of her weapons, according to Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.

He was identified as Phoenix Ikner.

McNeil said it was not a surprise that the suspect had access to weapons, as he was a member of the sheriff's office's citizen advisory or Youth Advisory Council. Officials said the suspect's mother purchased one of her former service weapons and it was her personal property at the time of the shooting.

"This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom, from a law enforcement perspective," McNeil said. "But I will tell you this, we will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation."

University of Florida President Kent Fuchs posted on X that he and the entire Gator community send "our most caring thoughts and deepest sympathies to the Florida State University family."

"Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by the shootings and their loved ones," Fuchs wrote.

The two schools are well-known rivals, sitting about 150 miles apart, and their teams regularly face off in different athletics. The official UF account also posted on X earlier today, clarifying misinformation that the shooting was on its Gainesville campus.

"Please keep the FSU community in your thoughts and use caution when reporting on this incident," the school wrote.