TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – First-day excitement is mixed with heavy hearts and uncertainty Monday for students at Florida State University.
They are heading back to class in Tallahassee after a deadly campus shooting in April that shook the university.
Two men died and six other people were injured. The victims were Tiru Chabba, an executive for food service vendor Aramark, and Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator.
The accused shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is awaiting trial in November on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
RELATED: FSU’s class of 2025 prepares for record-setting graduation amid heartbreak from tragic shooting in April | She was resting in a hammock on the FSU campus when she first heard gunshots. Panic, confusion and pain followed
Samuel Salib, a sophomore neuroscience major, recalls the day vividly as the spring semester was nearing its end.
“I was in the lab, and when we got the alerts on our phone and the text messages, I remember running upstairs, and we ran into a small office,” he said.
In the aftermath, the campus was covered in flowers and balloons as vigils and memorials brought the community together.
Security has increased across FSU, a change Salib noticed even during summer classes.
“I feel pretty safe going back to campus,” Salib said. “I’ve noticed there’s increased police presence and the community has been very supportive.”
Last week, FSU sent out a list of new protocols with safety devices across campus. Blue panic buttons will provide silent alerts to police during active threats and are used along with locking the room.
“It seems a little bit safer. We do have a higher police presence on campus, which is kind of nice, but also it just seems like there’s new emotions that we have all kind of taken the summer to deal with and we’re feeling more confident,” Lovelace said.
Yellow lockdown buttons automatically lock doors and notify police immediately.
“It feels like FSU is Fort Knox right now. Every class that had the electric door system now has a push thing where you could lock us in the classroom, and nobody could get out until the police come and clear it,” Senior Jalen Deadwiler said. “That felt pretty good.”
Academic spaces without electronic locks have thumb-turn or push-button locks. All enhancements comply with safety guidelines and ADA standards.
FSU police will continue to offer active threat training, covering run, hide, fight strategies.
Freshman Jackson Colson, a Tallahassee native, said he knew people who were on campus during the shooting. As he starts his freshman journey this semester, Colson feels reassured about heightened security.
“It does give me a little bit of comfort it was handled the way that it was,” Colson said. “Like any additional security is, I mean, much better.”
In a message to incoming freshmen, FSU President Richard McCullough emphasized community values, saying in part:
“Here we treat one another with kindness and respect, engage in thoughtful dialogue and value the free exchange of ideas. We take care of ourselves and look out for each other.”
Salib remains optimistic about the future.
“Go ‘Noles! We’re the best. We’re going to make it through, no matter what,” Salib said.
As students return, News4JAX will have coverage from Tallahassee throughout Monday to follow the Seminole community’s progress.