On April 17, 2025, a mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee resulted in two fatalities and six injuries, prompting renewed debates over Florida's gun legislation.

The incident occurred around 11:56 a.m. near the Student Union Building. The suspect, 20-year-old student Phoenix Ikner, is the stepson of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy. Ikner used his stepmother's former service weapon during the attack. The deceased were identified as Robert Morales, a 57-year-old campus dining director, and Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old employee of a campus vendor; neither were students. Among the injured, five sustained gunshot wounds, and one was hurt while fleeing. Ikner was shot by responding officers after refusing to comply with commands and remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The motive for the shooting is currently under investigation.

In response to the tragedy, FSU canceled all classes and business operations through April 18, as well as all home athletic events through April 20. A makeshift memorial was established near the shooting site, and a vigil was held at Langford Green in front of Doak Campbell Stadium on April 18. The FSU Foundation created a Student Emergency Fund to support those affected by the shooting.

The incident has reignited debates over gun legislation in Florida, particularly concerning proposals to lower the state's gun-buying age from 21 to 18. In 2018, following the Parkland school shooting, Florida raised the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21. Recent legislative efforts, such as House Bill 759 filed in February 2025, aim to reduce this age limit. Governor Ron DeSantis and some Republican lawmakers support lowering the age, while Senate President Ben Albritton remains undecided. Democratic lawmakers and FSU students, including Parkland survivors, are advocating against such changes and calling for stronger campus safety measures, including mandatory active shooter training, door locks, and improved mental health resources.

This is not the first shooting incident at FSU. In November 2014, a gunman opened fire in the university's library, wounding three people before being killed by law enforcement. The 2025 shooting has drawn national attention and comparisons to other mass shootings at U.S. educational institutions, including those at Virginia Tech, Michigan State University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

As the investigation continues, the FSU community mourns the loss of two valued members and grapples with the broader implications of the tragedy. The incident has sparked a renewed dialogue on gun control and campus safety, highlighting the ongoing challenges in balancing Second Amendment rights with the need to protect students and faculty.