Footage and snapshots reveal the progression of the shooting incident at Florida State University.
Amidst the lively atmosphere of Florida State University, the calmness was abruptly shattered by the deafening sound of gunfire, as the noon hour approached on a chilly Thursday. Crammed between lectures and eagerly awaiting graduation day, students scampered about, unaware of the darkness lurking just around the corner.
Suddenly, the peacefulness was torn apart, with the echo of gunshots reverberating across the campus. As boots dashed against the pavement and hearts raced, students scattered haphazardly, leaving behind shoes, backpacks, and a sense of security that would never return quite the same. Seeking refuge in classrooms, they hid beneath desks, praying that their actions would be enough to shield them from the terror unfolding outside.
Amidst the pandemonium, officers swarmed the scene, trying desperately to piece together the fragments of a puzzle that seemed to have no ending. It soon became clear that the Gun Violence Archive had not been wrong, as Florida's sixth mass shooting of the year claimed the lives of two men who were not students, while leaving five others with physical and emotional scars that would last a lifetime. The suspected gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student at FSU, was silenced by police gunfire and hospitalized.
The first shot was discharged by Ikner during the span of 11:56 a.m. and 11:57 a.m., as he navigated the labyrinthine campus, moving in and out of buildings and green spaces near the student union, brandishing a handgun. Within a mere four minutes, the madness halted when responding officers ended the nightmare with gunfire of their own, taking Ikner into custody.
This harrowing story unfolded before the cameras, with videos and photos capturing the raw emotions and chaotic aftermath of the deadly attack.
A campus in chaos
The once bustling student union was reduced to a ghost town in the blink of an eye, as students sprinted away in a desperate bid to escape the hail of gunfire. Videos obtained by CNN revealed the nerve-wracking scene of students desperately fleeing the area, the sharp crackle of gunshots replaced by the wailing sirens of first responders.
With the campus in turmoil, students and staff received emergency alerts on their phones, urging them to take cover whenever possible. Many hid in classrooms, seeking solace under their desks, while texting loved ones to keep them informed of their situation. To barricade themselves further, some even piled chairs and desks against their classroom doors.
In the eerie silence that followed, officers knocked on doors and carefully evacuated students from their hiding spots, leading them to safe areas. Dazed and overwhelmed, students walked away from the scene with empty eyes, their hands raised high in disbelief at what had transpired.
The school initially indicated that students should remain in place until 3:18 p.m., as law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to neutralize the threat. In the distance, the slow, steady sound of sirens echoed, while first responders wheeled stretchers down the street, lined with police cars, towards a makeshift triage zone.
Florida State University's emergency message system urged students to shelter in place at 12:02 p.m., following the first alert. As the hours ticked by, students clung to their phones, seeking comfort in the virtual warmth of their loved ones' texts and calls.
With the campus now silent, CNN returned to the scene the following morning, where a table of untouched T-shirts, a backpack, and a half-full soda bottle stood as a haunting testament to the events of just 24 hours prior.
CNN's Alaa Elassar contributed to this report
In the shadow of such a terrible tragedy, the connections we cling to in times of chaos become cruelly poignant. FSU students now face the daunting task of returning to the scene of their nightmares, as the university attempts to resume lessons on coming Monday. The community grapples with grief and trauma in the aftermath, desperate for answers and closure.
The events at FSU serve as yet another stark reminder of the ongoing gun violence epidemic that plagues the nation. The suspected shooter, Phoenix Ikner, who had a complex family background and access to firearms through his stepmother, raises crucial questions about gun safety and the enduring problem of gun violence in Florida and beyond.
As we mourn the lives lost and pray for the recovery of the injured, we are reminded once more that change must come, and it must come now. The fight for a safer future demands our unwavering attention, and it is our collective responsibility to stand against the darkness, and to never forget the innocent lives that have been stolen from us. #EnoughIsEnough
- The campus, once thriving with student activity, became a human tide of panic and flight at noon, as gunshots left no safe haven unscathed.
- As authorities located the barricaded shooter, FSU students found themselves seeking solace under desks and behind barricaded classroom doors, their capital city and general-news echoing with the intensity of the crime-and-justice tragedy.
- The days following the massacre saw the community filled with sorrow and grief, as students and staff struggled to reconcile their united past with the dark reality of the current state of politics concerning gun violence.
- Now, the community awaits the return of students to the once safe campus, symbolized by the haunting vestiges of overturned chairs and slices of untouched food that serve as grim reminders of the 5ee1a40677d7aa6150719e658981114f ordeal they endured together.
