Following a deadly shooting on the campus of Florida State University, President Donald Trump addressed the nation with a somber tone from the Oval Office, calling the tragedy “a shame.” The incident, which took place on April 17, 2025, claimed the lives of two individuals and left six others injured. The shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner—an FSU student and the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy—used his mother’s legally purchased handgun in the attack.
The violence unfolded near the student union at noon, sending the campus into chaos and lockdown. Ikner was shot and detained by police. Authorities later revealed he had deep ties to the sheriff’s department through youth programs. As the investigation continues, questions remain about what led to the shooting. But the full story didn’t end there—what followed stirred emotions across the nation and sparked another wave of urgent debate.