A 20-year-old man, identified as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire on Thursday at Florida State University (FSU), killing two people and injuring at least six others. Authorities said Ikner is the son of a sheriff’s deputy and is believed to be a student at FSU. He was shot and wounded by officers after refusing to comply with commands, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

Investigators said the shooter used his mother’s former service weapon. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner’s mother, a long-serving member of the sheriff’s office for over 18 years, had retained the handgun for personal use after the agency upgraded its firearms. “He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have,” McNeil said.

The incident began around lunchtime just outside the FSU student union. Students and parents sought cover in places like a bowling alley and a freight elevator. The two people who died were not students, said FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower, who declined to provide further information about the victims.

How did witnesses react?
Aidan Stickney, a 21-year-old business management student, said he saw a man get out of a car with a shotgun and aim at another man. “The gun jammed,” Stickney said, after which the shooter retrieved a handgun and opened fire on a woman. “I got lucky today. I really did. I really, really did,” he added. Trumbower noted there was no evidence that anyone was shot with the shotgun.

Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the union’s bowling alley. “In that moment, it was survival,” he said.

Chris Pento, who was on a campus tour with his twins, said they heard gunshots while having lunch. “It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told WCTV. After encountering locked doors, they hid in a service elevator. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

How did authorities respond?
Following the university’s active shooter alert, emergency services, including ambulances and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies, responded swiftly. Officers sealed off the area around the student union with crime scene tape. A forensics van was among the vehicles at the scene. Students and staff who fled left behind belongings and waited in the shade, praying for the victims.

How many were injured?
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating six people wounded in the shooting, with one in critical condition.

What did officials say?
President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office, “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place.” He added, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.”

Kai McGalla, a sophomore, said, “The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?” while locked down at a campus testing centre. Junior Joshua Sirmans said he was in the main library when alarms went off and was later escorted out by law enforcement officers with hands raised.

What is the current situation?
University President Richard McCullough said, “Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy.” As night fell, candles and flowers were placed outside the student union, which remained cordoned off.

What is the background of FSU?
Florida State University, located in Tallahassee, is one of 12 public universities in Florida, with about 44,000 students. In 2014, a shooting at the university’s main library wounded three people, and police killed the gunman. FSU has cancelled all classes for the rest of the week and suspended home athletic events through Sunday.