FSU shooting suspect makes 1st appearance in court after weeks in hospital
The 20-year-old who allegedly killed two and wounded several others in a mass shooting on the Florida State University campus last month made his first appearance in court on Tuesday after spending weeks in the hospital.
The suspect, FSU student Phoenix Ikner, was shot and wounded by officers minutes after he allegedly opened fire on the Tallahassee campus on April 17, officials said.
Ikner was released from the hospital on Monday and taken to a detention facility on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder, Tallahassee police said.
He made his first court appearance remotely on Tuesday as victims watched the proceedings in person and on Zoom.
Ikner was held on no bond and is prohibited from contacting any victims, their families or potential witnesses.
Cellphone video from the day of the shooting showed 23-year-old graduate student Madison Askins lying on the ground while Ikner stood "with his feet shoulder width apart and his arms outstretched in front of him," according to the probable cause affidavit released Tuesday.
"After Ikner takes this stance, three gunshots can be heard in succession" and then Ikner fled, the document said.
Askins was shot and survived.
Video also showed Ikner allegedly chasing and shooting 45-year-old Tiru Chabba, according to the probable cause affidavit. Ikner then allegedly returned to Chabba and shot him again as he laid on the ground, the document said.
Chabba, an employee of campus vendor Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, died from his injuries.
A camera also showed Ikner allegedly running up behind Robert Morales and fatally shooting him in the back, the probable cause affidavit said.
A motive is not clear.
Attorneys for Chabba's relatives said Ikner's court appearance is an "incredibly difficult day for Tiru Chabba’s family, particularly his wife and two young children."
"Our hope is that, through the thorough and transparent investigation and prosecution of the events surrounding last month’s shooting, today’s court appearance will mark the first steps toward closure for a family that suffered so much," the attorneys said in a statement.
