A shooting occurred near Florida State University’s Student Union shortly before noon on Thursday, resulting in two deaths and five injuries, sending students fleeing from the scene. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Echner, was subdued and taken into custody by campus police just two minutes after the first 911 call. FSU President Richard McCullough praised the rapid police response, preventing further casualties. Echner, a junior political science major and son of a local sheriff’s assistant, used a service weapon to carry out the attack, reportedly targeting victims at random.
The shooting claimed the lives of two university employees, with the five injured victims remaining hospitalized but in stable condition. While motives for the shooting are still under investigation, it has been noted that Echner had expressed extreme views in classroom debates and had a troubled familial background. Vigils were held for the victims, with the university community expressing grief and calls for gun and mental health reform.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims. All university events were canceled for the weekend as the community mourned the tragic incident, highlighting ongoing concerns over campus safety amid rising gun violence in the state.
Source link
