TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The Florida State University student who is accused of opening fire on campus last month was released Monday from the hospital and charged with murder.

Phoenix Ikner, 20, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder, according to court records and a press release shared Monday afternoon by the Tallahassee Police Department. This comes after he was accused of killing two men and injuring six other people.

Ikner was booked into the Leon County Detention Facility but was transferred to the Wakulla County Detention Facility just after 4:15 p.m., per online jail records. He is expected in court for his first appearance Tuesday at 11 a.m., per online court records.

Multiple killed, injured after shooting at Florida State University:

The FSU student was hospitalized for weeks after being shot in the jaw by FSU Police while they responded to the campus shooting on April 17.

“Today, May 12, Phoenix Ikner was released from a local hospital following an extended stay and multiple surgeries to treat injuries he sustained during the April 17 shooting at Florida State University,” a TPD press release said.

The shooting came as a shock to the Tallahassee area. The area saw multiple vigils and protests as residents attempted to cope with the loss and violence.

The local law enforcement community also said that they were struggling to grapple with the tragedy, in part due to the suspect’s history with the sheriff’s office.

The 20-year-old arrestee is the stepson of Jessica Ikner, a celebrated deputy at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities recovered one of her firearms at the scene of the shooting. It was a former service weapon that she had purchased from LCSO to use as a personal firearm, officials said.

Following his arrest, Jessica Ikner stepped back from her role as a school resource deputy for an “indefinite” period. LCSO is investigating the storage of that firearm, but authorities said they have not found any indication of policy violations so far.

His relationship with law enforcement means that he cannot await his first appearance at the Leon County Detention Facility, despite his case taking place in the Capital County.

“Ikner’s transfer to another facility is standard protocol, due to him being the stepson of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy,” an LCSO Facebook post said.

His history with the sheriff’s office stems beyond his family. On the day of the shooting, Sheriff Walt McNeil identified Ikner as the suspected shooter and acknowledged that he had an intimate relationship with the department.

The 20-year-old had also been a “longstanding” member of the LCSO Youth Advisory Council and engaged in many of the office’s trainings, the sheriff said.

“He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” he said.

In the same press conference, authorities said that the suspect had invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not answer investigators’ questions and they had yet to identify a motive.

As of Monday afternoon, authorities have not publicly shared any further information on the suspected shooter’s rationale.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs attention? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.

Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.