Florida State University Shooter Was Kidnapped by Mother as a Child and Taken to Norway, Records Reveal
TALLAHASSEE – As investigators piece together the life of 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner—the accused gunman in Thursday’s mass shooting at Florida State University—newly unearthed court records reveal a troubling chapter in his childhood: a years-long international custody battle that began with his abduction by his biological mother.
Ikner, currently hospitalized after being shot by police in the aftermath of the FSU attack, is accused of killing two people and injuring six others in a lunchtime shooting spree near the university’s student union. While his motive remains unclear, a review of Leon County court documents has shed light on a fractured past marked by trauma, instability, and legal turmoil.
Abducted at 10, Taken Overseas
In 2015, when Phoenix was 10 years old and known by his birth name—Christian Gunnar Eriksen—his mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, took him out of Florida under the guise of a spring break trip. She instead fled to Norway, violating a standing custody agreement that awarded parental rights to Phoenix’s father, court records show.
According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE, Anne-Mari ignored repeated pleas from the boy’s father to return and routinely evaded questions about when Phoenix would be brought back to the United States.
During his time overseas, Phoenix missed crucial school exams, doctor’s appointments, and medications he was prescribed for ADHD and a diagnosed growth hormone disorder. The court affidavit states that these medical interruptions may have had long-term implications for his mental and physical health.
Anne-Mari eventually returned to the U.S. and was criminally charged with removing a minor from the state. She later pleaded no contest and was sentenced, though it remains unclear whether she maintained any contact with her son after her conviction.
A Troubled Path
As law enforcement continues to probe the shooting, questions have arisen about Phoenix’s mental state and political leanings. Social media activity and past interviews show that Ikner, who was registered to vote as a Republican, once made dismissive comments about anti-Trump protesters at an on-campus rally, calling them “entertaining, but not for good reasons.”
Ikner’s name change and legal guardianship also point to further instability. Following his return from Norway, Phoenix was raised primarily by his father and stepmother, Jessica Ikner—a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy who has been described by officials as a “model employee.”
Authorities have confirmed that the weapon used in the attack was a police-issued firearm belonging to Deputy Ikner. Sheriff Walter McNeil said the gun was kept for personal use after an agency-wide upgrade. A shotgun was also recovered from the scene.
Victims and Aftermath
The victims of the attack include two individuals who died—Tiru Chabba, a food service employee from South Carolina working with Aramark, and Robert Morales, a longtime FSU dining coordinator—and six others who sustained gunshot wounds. Doctors at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare have confirmed that all six surviving victims are in stable condition, with some expected to be released within days.
Phoenix Ikner remains under police custody at a local hospital, recovering from injuries sustained when officers returned fire after he refused to drop his weapon. Authorities say he will face multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
Unanswered Questions
While Phoenix Ikner’s rampage has left a university community shaken and mourning, his background paints a picture of a young man shaped by early upheaval and fractured family ties. Whether that trauma played a role in the attack is now a matter for both investigators and mental health professionals to unravel.
The case raises renewed concerns over how childhood trauma, untreated psychological issues, and easy access to firearms—even in law enforcement households—can intersect in catastrophic ways.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. A more complete picture of Ikner’s motives may emerge in the weeks ahead, but for now, Florida State University remains in mourning—and a nation is once again forced to confront the complex human stories behind mass violence.
