After the shooting at Florida State University, where 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner killed two people and injured six others, universities in Houston, including Texas Southern University, are improving security measures. The gunman used his mother's former service weapon, who had been a sheriff's deputy for 18 years, as reported by AP News. In response, Houston universities are reviewing their safety protocols, with Texas Southern University organizing a Campus Safety Symposium to enhance safety and communication between institutions, according to Click2Houston.
Texas Southern University has implemented a security upgrade, including new emergency call boxes, license plate readers, more surveillance cameras, and increased patrol presence. Texas Southern University Police Chief Bobby Brown emphasized the community’s role in the effort, quoting, "A young man picked up the phone and said, 'This is what I’m seeing.' He didn’t hang up the phone—he guided us right to the incident," in a statement obtained by Click2Houston.
A shooting at Florida State University is under investigation, with the motive still unknown. The shooter was connected to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office through their youth advisory council and had access to weapons, as shared by AP News. Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed the deaths of two non-student men in the shooting but did not provide further details about the victims. In Houston, Texas Southern University students Savion Jackson and Arriana May expressed their shock and sympathy for those impacted by the incident, with May sharing her experience of a campus lockdown due to a similar threat. Both students' reactions were captured by Click2Houston.
