FSU Shooting Leaves Two Dead, Six Injured

Phoenix Ikner, the suspected gunman in the Florida State University shooting that left two dead and several injured, comes from a background marked by a lengthy and contentious custody battle between his parents. His biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, expressed shock and sorrow at the events and noted she had not been in contact with her son for years, following her own legal troubles after abducting him to Europe. Ikner's grandmother blamed his father and stepmother, Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner, for allegedly influencing his behavior, claiming they taught him to hunt and harbored bigoted views. The grandmother insisted that attempts to reconnect with Ikner after the custody battle were unsuccessful. Prior to the shooting, Anne-Mari Eriksen had publicly criticized Ikner’s father and stepmother online, highlighting ongoing familial discord. Ikner reportedly used his stepmother's former service weapon in the attack, intensifying scrutiny on the family’s role and environment.