'Pure fear': Student recounts terrifying moment as he ran away from FSU shooting

One thing went through Chris Joseph's mind after a round of gunshots rang out: "If you don't run fast enough, you're going to die."

Joseph had just started walking away from an event setup on Union Green next to Moore Auditorium — which is right next to the student union where the mass shooting took place — on Florida State University's campus when bullets went flying.

He and throngs of other students sprinted away, trying to distance themselves from the gunfire. Within five minutes, Joseph said he was driving onto Jackson Bluff Road in his car full of friends and strangers all looking to escape.

"I'm running out of breath, and it's like, oh my gosh, me being out of breath can cost me my life right now," he said.

The accounting and risk management sophomore kicked off his Birkenstock sandals that were slowing him down, and – thankfully – the adrenaline kicked in.

"Just heartbreaking," he said. "Pure fear."

Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old FSU student, fatally shot two people April 17 and injured six more, police say. Law enforcement shot and apprehended him within three minutes.

But those three quick minutes were just long enough to inflict a lifetime of damage.

Originally from Palm Beach County, Joseph said he's afraid to drive home to be with his family because he didn't want to risk having something trigger him and cause him to be a danger to himself or others on the road.

"I've never been through anything like this, so I don't know what that looks like," he said.

'She was a nice woman'

Joseph said he was in shock when he saw all the posts and news about the shooter being identified as Ikner.

Ikner is the son of a Raa Middle School resource deputy who has worked for the Leon County Sheriff's Office for nearly two decades. Joseph too has worked with her.

Last year he worked with the Seminole Boosters, which helps run football game days. Deputy Ikner worked security for the games.

"She was a nice woman," Joseph said.

Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.