TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — April 17, 2025 — A deadly shooting unfolded Thursday at Florida State University, leaving two people dead and five others hospitalized after gunfire broke out near the student union around 11:50 a.m., according to officials.
The suspected shooter, identified as Phoenix Eichner, is a 20-year-old student at FSU and the son of a local sheriff’s deputy. Authorities say he used a handgun that belonged to his mother, a law enforcement officer, and also had a shotgun in his car. A third firearm was found in the student union. Eichner reportedly invoked his right to remain silent after being taken into custody.
Officials confirmed that none of the deceased victims were students, though several of the injured were. Law enforcement responded rapidly, neutralizing the gunman after he failed to comply with commands. The campus was placed on lockdown during the incident, but has since been declared secure.
Students described scenes of panic and trauma as they hid in classrooms or ran to help friends. Eyewitnesses recalled police escorting people out of buildings at gunpoint for safety. One student, Jayden D’Onofrio, said not knowing whether his friends were safe was one of the most gut-wrenching moments of his life.
The university canceled classes for the rest of the day, and law enforcement continues its investigation into the motive and background of the shooter. This incident marks the sixth mass shooting in Florida so far this year.
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