
Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old Florida State University student accused of a mass shooting on campus, appeared in court on May 13, 2025, where he was denied bond. During the virtual hearing, Judge Monique Richardson appointed two public defenders to represent Ikner and imposed strict no-contact orders, prohibiting him from communicating with victims, their families, or potential witnesses.
The charges stem from the April 17 shooting near the FSU Student Union, where Ikner allegedly used firearms taken from his parents’ home—including a .45 caliber pistol and a malfunctioning shotgun—to kill two individuals and injure seven others. The victims included Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator, and Tiru Chabba, a regional vice president with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.
A grand jury indicted Ikner on May 14, 2025, on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. The indictment revealed that Ikner acted alone, and the victims were selected at random. The shooting lasted approximately three minutes before campus police intervened, with Officer Cody Poppell confronting and shooting Ikner in the jaw while he was actively firing at another individual.
Ikner’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 11, 2025, where he is expected to be formally arraigned.