Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old suspect in the Florida State University shooting last month, has been discharged from the hospital and is now facing serious charges, according to FOX 10. After being treated for injuries sustained during the incident, in which he was shot by police, Ikner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
The shooting, which left two people dead and six injured, occurred on April 17 near the student union at FSU. Details on Ikner's motive remain shrouded in mystery, with CNN reporting that there did not appear to be any connections between the suspect and any of the victims. The suspect's background is scrutinized as he is the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy and once served on a sheriff’s advisory council. Ikner's previous classmates have reported his political beliefs to be extreme, but it is still unclear if that was a factor in the shooting.
Ikner's first court appearance is anticipated to happen Tuesday morning, where more details from their probable cause affidavit may be provided. As reported by CNN, the investigation into whether Ikner is still enrolled at FSU is ongoing. Meanwhile, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell expressed gratitude for the collective effort leading to this point, stating, "We are grateful for the work of our detectives, officers, medical personnel and partner agencies who helped bring us to this point."
Authorities have identified the victims as 45-year-old Tiru Chabba and 57-year-old Robert Morales, both of whom were on campus for work-related duties and not as students. Chabba and Morales left behind grieving families. The aftermath of the shooting continues to unfold, with Ikner being transferred to another facility due to his mother’s long-standing association with the sheriff's department.
