Recap: Alleged FSU gunman denied bond, court records trace 3 minutes of terror
Phoenix Ikner , who police say brought death and tragedy to Florida State University when he opened fire April 17 on classmates and staff around the Student Union, killing two people and injuring six, had his first court appearance Tuesday, May 13.
Ikner, who was shot and "neutralized" by FSU officers about two minutes into his rampage , was released Monday, May 12, from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, arrested and booked into jail. He is being held in the Wakulla County Detention Facility because his stepmother, a school resource deputy, works for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, which runs the Leon County Detention Facility.
Ikner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for deaths of Robert Morales , 57, a university dining coordinator and former restauranteur, and Tiru Chabba , 45, an employee of FSU vendor Aramark from Greenville, South Carolina.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story includes disturbing details from the police report on the April 17 Florida State University shooting inside and outside of the student union.
Tallahassee police debunk national media report about an automatic rifle
There was no mention of any automatic weapons in newly released arrest reports detailing the April 17 mass shooting at Florida State University — contrary to an earlier national news report.
CNN, citing an anonymous law enforcement official, reported on April 18 that an "AR-15 style rifle" had been recovered from Ikner's vehicle.
The police report mentions the discovery of a shotgun only inside his father's Hummer, which he drove to campus the morning of the shooting. They also found the .45 caliber Glock handgun Ikner allegedly used to shoot his victims.
The Tallahassee Police Department confirmed with the Tallahassee Democrat that no AR-15 was recovered from the scene.
State Attorney Jack Campbell asks that Ikner be held without bond
State Attorney Jack Campbell appeared in a Leon County courtroom this morning to personally handle the prosecution of Phoenix Ikner, the alleged gunman in the April 17 mass shooting at Florida State University. Assistant Public Defender Randall Harper was appointed to represent him.
Surveillance video captured terror at the Student Union
Campus surveillance video captured the terror that unfolded inside the Student Union after police say Phoenix Ikner began chasing and shooting at victims, including the two people he killed.
At 11:58 a.m., he was seen on camera chasing and shooting Tiru Chabba, who falls to the ground.
"Ikner then runs around the area and returns to (Chabba) at approximately 11:58:51 a.m., when he shoots him again as (the victim) laid on the ground. (The victim) died as a result. Ikner then exits camera view, running toward the food court."
Moments later, as he ran toward the Bookstore entrance and shot three people, all of whom survived. At 11:58:30 a.m., Robert Morales is seen "walking hurriedly" through the food court.
"Ikner can be seen running up from behind him and shooting (him) in the back," the report says. "(The victim) died as a result."
Alleged Florida State gunman drove father's Hummer to campus
After Ikner was taken down by police, he identified himself by name, according to the probable cause affidavit. Five victims were located and triaged for gunshot wounds. Two more victims were identified but "were not injured," the report says.
Investigators found a .45 caliber Glock handgun near Ikner at the scene. They also recovered spent .45 caliber shell casings and live shotgun rounds of ammunition in and around the Student Union.
They also found a Hummer located a short distance from the Student Union with a shotgun inside. The vehicle belonged to Ikner's father, Christian Ikner, according to the police report.
FSU officer shot alleged gunman as he was firing on another person
Court records say initial calls about a campus shooter came in at 11:58 a.m. on April 17. The callers said an active shooter was firing in between the Student Union and Moore Auditorium.
The shooter was described as a white male wearing a red or garnet shirt. Officers encountered him outside the Student Union in a "shooting stance."
"As officers approached, the suspect was shooting at a person who was fleeing," the arrest affidavit says. "A responding officer shot the suspect."
Ikner tried to use shotgun at outset of mass shooting
Court records have been released detailing the charges against Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old alleged Florida State gunman who opened fire on campus April 17.
The probable cause affidavit says that at the outset of the shooting Ikner tried to use a shotgun but it either didn't go off or didn't have ammo.
"Iker pointed the shotgun at J.W. (one of the victims), but it appeared to have a malfunction or was not loaded, which cause the shotgun not to fire," the affidavit says. "Ikner put the shotgun back in the vehicle and retrieved a handgun. Ikner began shooting A.G. (another victim) with the handgun."
Ikner appearing before County Judge Monique Richardson, denied bond
Phoenix Ikner will make his first court appearance this morning before Leon County Judge Monique Richardson. Court will convene in Courtroom 2D, but Ikner will appear virtually from the Wakulla County Detention Facility.
Ikner is expected to appear first among all the defendants making their initial court appearance today. If he hasn't retained his own private attorney and meets income requirements, the judge will likely appoint him a public defender.
In the short hearing, he was denied bond and told not to make contact with families of the victims or the victims themselves.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee at 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Live updates: Alleged FSU gunman makes first court appearance
