TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Oddly details have been released about the accused shooter who fired fire on Florida State University’s campus.
“The shooter is 20-year-old Phoenix Eckner, and he is the son of the Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Department,” said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeill.
Two people died, six people were injured in a shooting at Florida State University, police say
The sheriff said Ichner, a student at FSU, has access to his mother’s weapons. One of them was found on the scene.
Criminologist and FSU alum Alex Del Carmen said law enforcement is under the same rules as civilians when it comes to arms storage.
“Usually, the sons and daughters of law enforcement officers across the United States grow up with guns around their homes,” Del Carmen said. “You’re growing up with respect for guns and growing the understanding that they can kill someone. So this is a very unusual case. It shows the public that violence doesn’t discriminate.”
The sheriff also said Ichner was immersed in the sheriff’s office as a longtime member of the Youth Advisory Committee. Sheriff McNeill said Ichner is engaged in a training program.
“So it’s not surprising he has access to the weapon,” McNeill said.
Del Carmen said these details could play a role in searching for motivations.
“Whether he was in a temporary insanity or arguing in court, the final line is one that he has the motivation, intention and ability to hurt others on campus, so he should be the one responsible for this case,” Del Kamen said. “Law enforcement people will be showing the public that these tragedys are inevitable from happening in their own family.”
Criminologists praised FSU’s renowned criminology program, spoke about how much the campus has grown since it was there, and created security recommendations.
“Ironically, when I was there, I was actually a member of the security forces on campus, and as a student representative who advises the administration to wear these panic buttons around campus, and many other things we did to keep our community safe,” Del Carmen said. “You have experts who teach classes on how to be safe. Experts who do research on campus show that they never prevent this from happening.”
The motivation for filming has not been released.
