Records obtained by the Anti-Defamation League and shared with USA TODAY show that the suspected Florida State University shooter, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, had a fascination with Adolf Hitler, Nazis, and other hate groups. Screenshots of his online history revealed his use of Hitler imagery and terminology associated with white supremacists. Authorities have confirmed that Ikner opened fire near the university’s student union, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. He used a gun belonging to his stepmother, a veteran sheriff deputy, in the attack.
The ADL’s research on Ikner’s online activities also uncovered troubling signs, such as internet searches for terms like “scientific racism” and “national confederate flag.” They found references to extremist groups like Patriot Front in his online presence. Mass shooters in the past have shown patterns of adopting white supremacist imagery online, according to the ADL. Fellow students have reported that Ikner espoused extremist ideas in class, including right-wing conspiracy theories and racist beliefs.
Ikner’s hateful rhetoric led to his expulsion from a student politics club due to his white supremacist views. Other students who knew him described his extremist behavior and expressed concern over his access to firearms. The ADL’s research into Ikner’s online profiles aims to identify extremist ideological leanings before such accounts are deleted. This case highlights the crossover between extremism and violent behavior that continues to be a concern. Similar patterns have been observed in past mass shooting cases where suspects exhibited a fascination with extremist figures and adopted white supremacist rhetoric online.
