Five minutes of terror: Police release timeline of alleged FSU gunman’s campus rampage

When Phoenix Ikner walked onto Florida State University’s campus Thursday, gun in hand, police say he was ready to kill. Within five minutes, two people were dead, several more were wounded and he was shot and taken into custody by police.

On Friday, the Florida State University Police Department and Tallahassee Police released a clearer timeline of the deadly shooting.

Here’s what they say happened:

Ikner, the 20-year-old stepson of a Leon County school resource deputy, arrived at FSU’s parking garage around 11 a.m. He stayed there for about an hour, moving in and out of his car.

READ MORE: What we know about the FSU suspected shooter, son of a Leon County deputy

At 11:51 a.m., he left the garage.

Five minutes later, around 11:56 a.m., Ikner fired his first shot using his stepmother’s handgun.

He continued firing as he walked through green spaces and campus buildings.

Calls to 911 began at 11:58 a.m.

By noon, police had shot Ikner and taken him into custody.

In those five minutes, seven people were shot. Two died at the scene. Five others were injured. Another person was hurt while trying to escape.

READ MORE: Victim in FSU shooting was son of notorious Cold War Cuban-American CIA operative

“What we saw on April 17 was an extraordinary example of teamwork and professionalism in the face of a horrific event,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department in a statement on Friday. “From the moment the call came in, agencies across our region came together seamlessly, sharing information and deploying resources with public safety the top priority.”

By 12:02 p.m., FSU sent out an emergency alert warning of an active shooter on campus. Students and faculty were told to shelter in place.

Officers with weapons drawn were seen running across campus, securing buildings, and helping students evacuate.

Many students hunkered down in various classrooms and in the library for hours.

The once-buzzing campus near the shooting location of the student union was left deserted. Laptops, backpacks, and water bottles lay scattered, abandoned in a panic.

By 3:17 p.m., Tallahassee Police declared the campus secure. Students were allowed back into their dorms.

The investigation remains active. Tallahassee police are continuing to interview victims and witnesses. A vigil is planned to honor and mourn the victims at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statute.

The FBI has set up a digital tip line for photos and videos: www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.

This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM.