TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tallahassee police have identified the suspect as Phoenix Echner, the son of a local vice-chairman in Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University.
At an afternoon press conference, FSU Police Chief Jason Trambower said the 20-year-old suspect was the gunman responsible for the deaths of two people at the university. Six other people were also hospitalized.
“I’m grateful to the Lord”: FSU students explaining escape from campus
“At about 11:50am on Thursday, April 17, a gunman fired on Florida State University’s main campus in Tallahassee, shooting several individuals near a student union building,” Trumbower said. “The FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralised and arrested the shooter.”
Officers challenged the shooters, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Rebel. When the student failed to comply with the orders, law enforcement officers shot him.
Phoenix Echner was taken to hospital after the shooting, the chief said.
Who is Phoenix Echner?
Phoenix Ekner was considered a university student, according to Trambower. An FSU article on the anti-Trump protest cited a student and said he was a political science major.
In the article he said, “These people are usually pretty funny, but usually for no good reason. I think it’s a bit too late. [Trump] It is already set to be launched on January 20th, and there’s not much you can do except for the overtly rebellious.
Ikner’s quote was removed from the article, saying FSU News had removed him from the article “to maintain ethical journalistic standards and avoid expanding the voices of those responsible for violence.”
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeill said the 20-year-old was the son of his agent.
“Deputy Eekner has been with the county sheriff’s office for over 18 years,” McNeill said. “She does an incredible job she has completed. Her service to this community is exceptional.”
The suspect was able to access one of the mother’s weapons found at the scene, according to the sheriff. He was also said to have a shotgun with him, but it is not yet known whether he used it on his victims.
“We’re continuing to investigate how that weapon was used and what other weapons he might have accessed,” McNeill said.
Revell said the weapon in question was a gun used by a deputy who had been using before moving to a new service weapon.
“This was the handgun the lieutenant used before they moved on to a new handgun, and it was her personal handgun,” Revell said.
Phoenix Echner was also said to be a “long-time member” of the Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Committee prior to the shooting.
“He’s soaked up in the family, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and is involved in many of the training programs we have,” McNeill said. “So it’s no surprise to us that he has access to weapons.”
Revell said the motive for Ichner’s shooting is not yet known as he refused to speak to police.
The FBI is requesting people to witness the filming and post about it on social media and upload tips to www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.
