Florida State University shooting leaves two dead; Suspect identified as Deputy Sheriff’s son
Tallahassee: A tragic shooting incident at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday left two people dead and five others injured, prompting a major police response and lockdown across the campus. Authorities have identified the alleged shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU and the son of a longtime Leon County deputy sheriff.
According to law enforcement officials, Ikner used his mother’s former service weapon during the shooting. The firearm was issued to her during her time with the department. Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner had participated in the Sheriff’s Office training programs in the past, which may have given him familiarity with handling firearms.
The shooting began around midday near the student union, one of the busiest areas on campus. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and described scenes of panic as students fled the area. One student, identified as Wayne, told local outlet WCTV that “everyone just started running out of the student union. We heard about eight to 10 gunshots.”
In video footage aired by CNN, Ikner was seen walking across a campus lawn, firing at fleeing individuals. Authorities responded quickly, and the suspect was shot by police before being taken into custody. He is currently being treated at a hospital, and his condition has not been disclosed.
FSU President Richard McCullough expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “This is a tragic day for Florida State University. We’re absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today,” he said in a statement. All classes were cancelled for the day, and students were advised to stay off campus.
The university, which has a student population of over 40,000, immediately went into lockdown, with shelter-in-place orders issued as emergency responders secured the area. Students shared videos on social media showing evacuations and armed officers patrolling the grounds.
Among those injured were individuals not affiliated with FSU. Authorities confirmed the two fatalities were not FSU students but declined to release their identities pending family notification.
One student, Sam Swartz, who was in the basement of the student union when the incident occurred, recalled barricading himself and others using trash cans and plywood. “Everyone started freaking out. I remember learning to do the best you can to make them take time,” he told the Tallahassee Democrat.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the shooting, calling it "a shame" while reiterating his stance in support of the Second Amendment. “These are awful things, but the gun doesn't shoot; the people do,” he said.
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India willing to cut 100% tariffs; trade deal with New Delhi soon: Trump
New York (PTI): India is willing to cut 100 per cent tariffs on American goods, US President Donald Trump claimed once again while saying that a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington is coming soon.
In an interview to Fox News, Trump, however, said that he is not in a "rush" for the proposed trade deal.
Against the backdrop of the US president's repeated claim of India offering to drop all tariffs on American goods, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in New Delhi on Thursday that "any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial".
Trump again described India as "one of the highest tariff nations in the world."
"They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they're willing to cut 100 per cent of their tariffs for the United States?" Trump said.
When asked if the deal with India is coming soon, Trump said, "that'll come soon. I'm in no rush. Look, everybody wants to make a deal with us."
Then he went on to add: "South Korea wants to make a deal but I'm not going to make deals with everybody. I'm just going to set the limit. I'll make another some deals. Because I can't, you can't meet with that many people. I've got 150 countries that want to make deals."
India and the US are holding talks to firm up a trade deal.
On Thursday, Jaishankar said trade talks have been going on between India and the US.
"These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is. Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries," he said.
"That would be our expectation from the trade deal."
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to assess the progress of negotiations for the proposed trade agreement.
He is expected to hold talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.
To boost bilateral trade, India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, chemicals, grapes, and bananas in the proposed pact with America.
On the other hand, the US wants duty concessions in sectors like certain industrial goods, automobiles (electric vehicles in particular), wines, petrochemical products, dairy, agriculture items such as apples, and tree nuts.
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