Shooting in the South: A Sheriff’s Son, More Tragedy, and Another Gun
Florida State University campus reels after a shooting involving the son of a local sheriff’s deputy—raising new questions about gun access and the South’s deepening crisis.
On the morning of April 17th, Florida State University joined a growing list of Southern schools marred by gun violence. Students were just beginning their day when gunshots rang out. By noon, the university was under lockdown, two people were dead, and several others were injured.
The suspect has been identified as a 20-year-old FSU student named Phoenix Ikner, who is identified as the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy.
According to reports, Ikner used his mother’s former service weapon in the attack. Witnesses described panic on campus, texts from loved ones checking in, and the all-too-familiar rituals of grief and fear. Ikner was shot by police after refusing to comply and is now hospitalized in custody.
The gunman’s access to a police-issued weapon adds a troubling layer to this tragedy. What protocols exist, and were they followed? And why do we continue to see guns in the hands of young people, especially those raised in spaces of supposed discipline and training?
A Southern Pattern of Violence
School shootings aren’t new to Florida—or to the South. From 2018 to 2023, Florida saw 14 school shooting incidents that left 56 people injured or killed. That’s an average of four victims per incident, placing Florida among the most violent states for campus-based gun violence.
The state is hardly alone. Texas has reported more than 225 school shootings since 1966. Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee have each seen 75 or more.
Gun culture is, unfortunately, embedded in the South’s identity. In Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama, over 50% of adults own at least one gun. Florida’s gun ownership rate is 32.5% — lower than its neighbors, but still among the nation’s highest. With more permissive gun laws, looser storage regulations, and a tradition of familial gun access, Southern states have become disproportionately vulnerable to firearm-related tragedies.
Firearm death rates reflect this reality. Mississippi leads the country with 28.6 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, followed by Alabama at 23.6. Florida, too, has consistently ranked among the top ten states for overall gun violence.
Prayers Aren’t Enough
In the aftermath of the FSU shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted: “We stand with Florida State University. Today, we are all Seminoles.” He followed with condolences and assurances that state law enforcement was actively responding. But for many Floridians, that wasn’t enough. A student speaking live from campus said, “Prayers don’t do much…we need to make some gun reforms.”
Congressman Maxwell Frost—the first Gen Z member of Congress and a gun reform advocate—responded directly: “Pass Safe Storage Laws next week or SHUT UP.”
Matthew Grocholsk, a community member, also voiced frustration: “You have done NOTHING to stop the gun violence illness in our communities. Do something—not just send prayers.”
Meanwhile, on the national front, President Donald Trump defended gun access, saying: “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do…I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment.”
Activist Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, argued that the reason America has a 26 times higher gun homicide rate than any peer nation is because “politicians care more about pandering to gun lobbyists than protecting their constituents.”
A Place Black Southerners Hold Dear
The shooting’s emotional impact extended beyond campus. Civil rights attorney and FSU law school graduate Ben Crump issued a heartfelt public statement:
“It’s 2025, and our children still aren’t safe in classrooms or on college campuses. This time, the tragedy hit Florida State — a place I hold dear and where I earned my law degree. Our bright young scholars across America shouldn't have to go through this.”
State Representative Angie Nixon, who represents my district in the Florida House, also spoke out when she learned that her own niece was on campus during the shooting: “My heart is heavy. My niece was walking into a building on campus and heard gunshots and ran. This should NEVER happen. WE HAVE TO DO MORE to stop this.”
In her full statement, Nixon echoed the fears of many Black parents and leaders: “We cannot grow numb to this. Students deserve to feel safe in their classrooms, not fear for their lives. This is a public safety issue. I will continue to push for the changes we need to keep our communities safe.”
Where Do We Go From Here?
As of now, the campus has canceled classes, suspended all athletic events, and begun offering counseling services to affected students while a full investigation is underway.
But the real questions remain unanswered. How many more school campuses must fall into mourning before gun access is treated as a policy crisis and not just a personal tragedy in the South? Who is brave enough to confront not just the shooter, but the systems that make these shootings possible?
Moreover, why are we still asking these questions in 2025?
The South can’t afford to treat this as another isolated event. Not when the pattern is this consistent. Not when the victims are this young. And not when the guns are this close.
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights, and feedback and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
The shooter was a loudly open white supremacist who was involved with the local sheriff’s department via his stepmom, a middle school resource officer. Is the stepmom also a white supremacist? How does she treat the non-white students while she’s supposed to be protecting them? How many white supremacists are employed by or are involved with making policy for this sheriff’s office? Should cops have consequences for not securing their guns?