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Headline Roundup April 19th, 2025

FSU Shooting: Victims Identified, Biological Parents' Conflicts Revealed

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Following the shooting at Florida State University, more details have emerged, including the identities of the two deceased victims and reports of a tumultuous relationship between the biological parents of the 20-year-old suspect. The biological mother of the suspected gunman, Phoenix Ikner, has spoken out about her concerns regarding her son.

The Details: On Thursday, the shooting on the campus of FSU in Tallahassee claimed the lives of Tiru Chabba, a father who worked for a campus vendor, and Robert Morales, the university's dining coordinator and former high school assistant football coach. Anne-Mari Eriksen is Ikner's biological mother and Leon County Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Ikner is his stepmother, according to court documents. Eriksen and Christopher Ikner, the suspect's father, were reportedly involved in a contentious custody battle during his childhood, which included incidents such as Eriksen taking her son to Norway without permission, leading to her arrest and legal consequences.

Key Quotes: "I was alienated from him," Eriksen told WPLG about her son. "I have been concerned for him in the past, but I would never have thought that."

For Context: Six others were injured in the shooting and are being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Ikner, an FSU student, was shot by campus police and arrested. Authorities said he used his stepmother's former service weapon.

How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum highlighted the tense relationship between Ikner's biological parents. The New York Post (Lean Right bias) described the "messy legal struggle" that ended with Eriksen kidnapping her son and taking him to Europe in March 2015. The New York Times (Lean Left) noted the suspect endured "years of family tumult," with parents who "fought bitterly over every aspect of his care" and accused each other of manipulation and abuse.

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Featured Coverage of this Story

Florida State University shooting suspect did not know victims - police
News

A suspect accused of killing two people and injuring six others during a shooting spree at Florida State University did not know his victims, police said Friday.

The alleged gunman, 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, began shooting around lunchtime on Thursday near the student union building in Tallahassee. The motive remains unclear.

Open on BBC News
Alleged FSU gunman Phoenix Ikner’s biological mom had been ‘concerned’ for son before deadly shooting
News

The biological mom of suspected Florida State University shooter Phoenix Ikner claimed she has not seen her estranged son in several years after she abducted him to Europe a decade ago — but had concerns over his well-being.

Anne-Mari Eriksen said she had concerns for her 20-year-old son before he was accused of killing Aramark employees Tiru Chabba, 45, and Robert Morales, and injuring six others on the campus located in Tallahassee.

Open on New York Post (News)
Guns, Extreme Views and Chaotic Childhood Shaped Suspect in Florida State Shooting
Guns, Extreme Views and Chaotic Childhood Shaped Suspect in Florida State Shooting

Erich Martin/The New York Times

News

The 20-year-old student accused of killing two people and wounding six others at Florida State University had expressed extremist political views that made classmates uncomfortable, talked about his interest in guns and experienced years of family tumult that culminated in his changing his name in high school.

The day after the shooting terrorized Florida State students, forcing them to flee or hide from gunfire at the university’s campus in Tallahassee, interviews and extensive court records offered an early portrait of the suspect, though law enforcement officials remained silent on what...

Open on New York Times (News)

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