TALLAHASSEE — Newly released video shows the frantic moments after shots rang out at Florida State University, as body camera footage, surveillance video and 911 calls provide a clearer picture of the fear and chaos that unfolded during last April’s campus shooting.
Investigators said people were killed and six others were injured in the attack, which happened nearly a year ago.
The material, released by the State Attorney’s Office, include body camera video showing officers rushing to the scene, confronting the suspected gunman and taking him into custody.
Recordings of 911 calls capture the urgency of the moment.
“Can you tell me exactly what’s happening?” a 911 dispatcher asked the caller.
“There’s a shooter at the FSU Student Union” the caller responded.
Authorities later identified the suspect as Phoenix Ikner, who was 20 years old at the time of the shooting.
Records related to his parent’s custody dispute show Ikner’s identity before 2020 was Christian Gunnar Eriksen, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Norway, and included allegations that he had been diagnosed with “several health and mental issues” by the time he was 11 years old, ABC News and First Coast News.
After the FSU shooting, Leon County Sheriff Walter A. McNeil said Ikner was a “long-standing” member of The Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and identified, Jessica Ikner, a deputy who served in LCSO for over 18 years, as his mother..
“Her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene,” McNeil said referring to the deputy’s stepson.
Newly released court documents also detail Eichner’s alleged conversations on the day of the shooting with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, including questions about the university and prompts such as when the FSU student union is busiest.
Attorneys in Tallahassee have since filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT on behalf of one of the victims. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also announced an investigation into the company this week.
Investigators said Eichner faces nine charges, including first-degree murder. His trial is expected to begin in October.
Local 10 digital journalist Andrea Torres contributed to this story.
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