On April 17, 2025, a tragic shooting occurred near the Student Union at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. Among the injured was 23-year-old graduate student Madison Askins, who shared her harrowing experience of surviving the attack.FOX 35 Orlando+9People.com+9FOX 35 Orlando+9ABC News+1FOX 35 Orlando+1
Askins recounted that she was walking with a friend when they heard gunshots. Attempting to flee, she fell and was subsequently shot in the buttocks. Remembering advice from active shooter drills, she decided to play dead as the gunman reloaded nearby, a decision she believes saved her life. FOX 35 Orlando+1ABC News+1ABC News+1FOX 35 Orlando+1
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. He was apprehended by law enforcement after being shot and wounded. Investigations revealed that Ikner used weapons, including one possibly accessed through his mother, a longtime sheriff’s department employee. CBS News+7People.com+7FOX 35 Orlando+7
The incident has left the FSU community in shock, prompting the cancellation of classes and athletic events. Vigils and calls for action against gun violence have emerged in the aftermath
