The son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy stands accused of killing two people and injuring six others at a mass shooting at Florida State University.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil revealed the information about the shooter at a press conference held by the Tallahassee Police Department in the wake of the shooting.

“The shooter is 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, and he’s a son of a Leon County Sheriff deputy,” McNeil said. “Our deputy, Deputy Ikner, has been with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office for over 18 years. She has a tremendous job that she’s done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.”

The press conference took place at 4:30 p.m. Authorities confirmed the shooter’s name and said he was being treated for injuries.

Authorities said there were six victims besides the two killed. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has confirmed to The Associated Press that six people were being treated after the shooting, one in critical condition.

The identities of those killed in the shooting were not immediately released, and police released no information about other victims.

Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower said those killed were not students.

“The two deceased are not students. The shooter is believed to be a permanent FSU student,” he said.

Roughly four hours after the shooting was first reported, police announced the campus was secure. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell told reporters that investigators believe Ikner was the sole shooter.

“We have no reason to believe at this point that he did not act alone. So there is no further threat to our community at this point in time,” he said.

Florida State University President Richard McCullough said all classes and activities on campus will be cancelled through the end of the week. The university will make any counseling and psychological services available to students, faculty and staff, who can call (850) 644-2005, ext. 2003.

“It’s a tragic day for Florida State University,” he said. “We’re absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today.”

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As more details come to light over the Hope Florida scandal, it’s only natural to point fingers.

But it’s important to point fingers at the right person, people, entity or entities. It’s not yet clear yet who or what that is, but what is clear is who it is not.

Josh Hay.

As the Chair of the Hope Florida Foundation Board, it’s easy to look there first. But much like we are cautioned not to judge a book by its cover, this situation warrants a look inside the pages.

It’s clear from extensive investigative reporting and lawmakers’ own inquiries that the Hope Florida Foundation — the fundraising arm of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ prime initiative — did not file required tax forms. Nor did it follow state law requiring open meetings. Hell, it didn’t even follow its own bylaws.

And Hay has acknowledged mistakes were made, telling the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee that “there were lapses in reporting procedures” and explaining that the Foundation “was not provided with the staffing support necessary” to handle issues.

But to turn Hay into the scapegoat for the growing scandal — and worse, to claim he benefited from the foundation’s transgressions — is just not rooted in reality.

The proof is in Hay’s firm’s financials and track record.

At issue are inquiries about whether Board members, including Hay, had conflicts of interests because they or their businesses did business with the state. A reporter raised that question during a press availability this week with Rep. Alex Andrade, who has been a chief critic of Hope Florida amid ongoing revelations of mismanagement. Even though he’s been a fierce detractor, even Andrade seemed to recognize that the answer is nuanced.

“I think it’s fact-specific, each one,” he answered. “I don’t want to cast any aspersions on the Board members. I don’t think that they were properly informed by their attorney at the time.”

And indeed, there are specific facts related to Hay and his firm, Indelible Solutions. Founded in 2018, the firm far predates Hay’s inclusion on the Hope Florida Foundation Board. It does contract with the state, with operations across various sectors including health, emergency management, technology and transportation.

But it also operates as a trusted partner to government agencies in 23 states, where it helps prepare states to respond to natural disasters, make health care more accessible and more. And its annual growth rate was more than 200% in August 2023, before Hay joined the Board, showing the firm was doing just fine without whatever quid pro quo detractors might suggest.

In fact, nearly all of Indelible Solutions’ Florida-based revenue growth in 2024, after he joined the Board, was generated from projects re-awarded to the firm based on its track record of success, not new contracts.

From 2022 through last month, more than two-thirds of the firm’s Florida-based revenue was generated from contracts awarded before Hay joined the board.

And making Hay the scapegoat here ignores its track record in Florida. That includes partnering with other firms in 2020 to establish a $50,000 COVID relief initiative; the inaugural “Miracle on 27th St.” dinner and toy giveaway in 2021; a $25,000 contribution in 2023 to a Ft. Myers-based church for youth and family outreach; and $250,000 donated to date to FAMU.

“Indelible Solutions operated for years and grew substantially in the state of Florida long before I began my service on the board of the Hope Florida Foundation,” Hay told Florida Politics. “Indelible has earned its irreproachable reputation with the state government through years of the reliable and cost-efficient delivery of services.”

“Dating back to the time of COVID’s impact on Florida, Indelible has built a reputation for deploying people across the state to the communities that need it most. I take great offense to any suggestion that Indelible’s growth was anything less than earned,” he added.

Leadership should always be held accountable when mistakes are made, but in this case, Hay does not deserve to be accused of benefiting from the Hope Florida scandal.

Instead, lawmakers should continue asking questions and demanding answers. And they should do that knowing all of the facts, not by making assumptions that can easily be disproven.

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