On Friday evening, a vigil took place at Florida State University (FSU) following a deadly shooting that occurred the previous day on campus, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to six others. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Echner, is a student at FSU and related to a sheriff’s deputy. The incident unfolded shortly before lunchtime, lasting around four minutes before police confronted Echner, who allegedly used a service weapon belonging to his stepmother, a former sheriff’s officer.
The deceased have not been officially confirmed, but one identified victim was Robert Morales, a meal coordinator at FSU, while the other was a food vendor employee from South Carolina. Students and the community came together for moments of silence, candlelight memorials, and expressions of grief, recalling past campus tragedies, including a yoga studio shooting in 2018 that claimed another FSU student.
Classes were canceled as some students returned to retrieve belongings left behind during the lockdown. Local leaders and community members emphasized healing and support for the victims’ families as prayers and vigils were held, including during Good Friday services at a nearby church. Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive for the shooting. The incident has reignited discussions about campus safety and the impact of previous traumatic events on students.
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