TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray News) - Florida authorities say a 20-year-old opened fire Thursday at Florida State University, killing two people and wounding at least six others.

The university shared an alert at 12:01 p.m. reporting an “active shooter” in the area of the Student Union.

The Associated Press reported just before 2 p.m. that the suspected gunman, later identified as FSU student Phoenix Ikner, was wounded after not following commands and taken into police custody.

Ikner is said to be a sheriff’s deputy’s son, with authorities finding his mother’s former service weapon at the scene.

At least six victims were taken to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, hospital officials told WCTV.

“TMH is actively receiving and caring for patients related to an incident that has occurred at Florida State University,” the hospital said in the statement. “We want to assure the community that our teams are fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected.”

The two men who died were not students, said Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower, adding that he would not release additional information about the victims.

A witness on the scene told WCTV they witnessed a college-aged man exit the student union with a handgun.

Students who were in the Student Union at the time of the shooting told a WCTV reporter they heard about 15 to 20 gunshots.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that FBI agents also responded to the scene.

For hours, the university advised those on campus to seek shelter and await further instructions.

All classes and university events scheduled for Thursday and through the rest of the week were canceled. All home athletic events have also been canceled through Sunday.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”

President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting and also commented on it during a press conference.

“It’s a shame. Horrible thing, horrible thing,” Trump said. “Things like this take place. And we will have more to say about it later.”

Gabriel Santoro, a senior at Florida State, was in class when all at once, it became clear something was very wrong.

As his classmate presented a research paper, another student interrupted, saying people outside were running. Then, they got a text. It was the university’s emergency alert.

“We kind of all realized something was going on,” he said. “We got the desks and started piling them against the door.”

Chris Pento, who was in Tallahassee with his twin daughters for a campus tour, said they were looking at a menu on campus when shots rang out.

“I couldn’t believe it. Shots fired. It was surreal. People just started running. She got trampled over,” Pento said.

He said they tried to hide in rooms off a long hallway but all the doors were locked.

That’s when the father said about 50 people ran into a service elevator and when the doors opened, there were two officers with guns drawn who helped them get out.

“I just hope everyone is OK. I’m praying for those people who are injured and I just hope we can do better in the future,” one student told a WCTV reporter.

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