'Florida State strong': Thousands turn out for vigil after mass shooting kills 2, injures 6

A crowd of thousands of individuals absorbed into one body of garnet and gold Friday evening in a vigil at Florida State University to honor the victims of Thursday's shooting on its campus .

Phoenix Ikner , a 20-year-old FSU student and the stepson of a Leon County sheriff's deputy,  used his stepmother's gun  to go on a shooting rampage on Florida State University's Tallahassee campus at 11:50 a.m., killing two people and wounding six others.

"I was told that we didn't expect a lot of people to come. I was clearly wrong," said Florida State University President Richard McCullough. "This is unbelievable."

While the crowd was significantly larger than expected even with students leaving the closed campus en masse ahead of Easter, FSU was well-prepared.

There was a fleet of mental health professionals in the crowd, groups handing out water bottles and tissues, and a visible presence from law enforcement and EMS, who quickly responded when members of the crowd, likely overcome by the heat, cried "medic!"

The tight bond of the FSU family — built on students, faculty, alumni, and community members — was reflected in McCullough's heartfelt assurances that it might hurt now, but they will heal by standing together.

"There is no manual on how we feel when something like this happens. I'm angry, you're angry…. I'm completely numb. Some of you are scared. I understand that," he said. "All those feelings are normal. There's no right response to tragedy. But I want to be clear —  you're not alone."

McCullough praised the swift efforts of responders to the scene of the shooting, announcing that all six of the remaining injured are expected to make a full recovery, with two expected to be released today. Upon his visit to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, the crowded rooms of the victims packed with fellow students were a symbol of the campus' resilience and strength. 

"That's how we'll get through it," McCullough said. "Together."

The two that they lost, Tiru Chabba , a 45-year-old father and executive for campus vendor Aramark, and Robert Morales, a beloved high school football coach who worked in the university's dining services department, would not be forgotten. Chabba was not addressed at the vigil out of respect for the wishes of family, who have hired an attorney to represent them.

Florida State University Senior Vice President Kyle Clark, who knew Morales personally, spoke about how Morales enhanced the campus through his role.

"He didn't just do the job, he lived the job," Clark said of Morales. 

Clark described him as a "visionary" who ensured FSU's dining experience was inclusive by implementing programs that exposed students to foods from around the world and allergy-friendly dining areas.

Food was one of his passions, and he had a reputation for homemade Cuban meals and pastries.

A solemn moment of silence was shared in honor of those lost, and later, a performance of the FSU Hymn to the Garnet and Gold by the Marching Chiefs brought the crowd to tears.

Campus minister Jay Winters also shared Psalm 23, which he said many students find comfort in, regardless of their faith background. 

Winters encouraged people of faith to continue to pray, and those who are not to "memorialize the moment."

While some found solace in Scripture, others felt their stress melt with one pet of Macy T. Dawg's golden fur. She is a Crisis Response Canine who travels to different crisis zones with her handler Bear Burman.

"We're a nationwide response team. Our dogs are trained for crisis response and critical incident stress management," Burman said. "The petting will lower their blood pressure, lower their heart rate, lower their cortisol, increase the oxytocin levels."

Burman said the two were invited to campus by FSU administrators, and their goal was to help bring stress relief to the community.

Even students from surrounding universities, such as Ma'Kayla Mason, a sophomore at Florida A&M University, came to show their support.

"I have friends who go to FSU and it kind of scared me hearing about the shooting," Mason said. "I was really worried, and then I just want to be able to show my support. There's other people who are there to support you guys and be here for you."

Anylia Blue, a junior at FSU who came to the vigil to pray for her community, said showing support for one another is "all we can do" moving forward.

"It's easy to feel alone, especially when you're far from family and stuff like this happens," Blue said. "So like he said, community is always the best that we have, and all we can do is call on each other."

McCullough closed the vigil by pointing students back to who they are and encouraged them to be "Florida State strong" together.

"FSU is a family who grieves together. We remind ourselves that we belong to a community that deeply loves Florida State University and shows up in hard times," he said. "We'll find a way forward. We will never forget what happened, we will never forget the people that we lost. But we will honor them not by mourning, but by continuing to be strong. Florida State strong. We will be there to lift each other up. We'll show the world what it's like to be part of the Florida State family."

All classes at the Tallahassee campus are canceled for April 18 and all  athletic events were canceled  through April 20 as the investigation continues.

How to help FSU victims in wake of mass shooting

The FSU Foundation set up a Student Emergency Fund to provide financial support to students and families affected by Thursday's mass shooting.

While donations can't be earmarked, they will be used to assist the injured, families of victims killed in the shooting, and impacted students. 

Donations can be made by clicking over to  give.fsu.edu .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Vigil for FSU shooting victims held on campus Friday