FSU Shooting Video Release 'Blindsided' Victims' Families

State Attorney says footage was accidentally made public without proper redactions

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:58am

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An extreme close-up of a single spent bullet casing on a dark, textured surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigative nature of this crime story.The accidental release of unredacted footage from the 2025 Florida State University shooting has caused further trauma for victims' families.Tallahassee Today

Prosecutors said new body camera and security footage from the deadly 2025 shooting at Florida State University should never have been released after the videos were accidentally made public without proper redactions following a flood of records requests in the case.

Why it matters

The release of the unredacted footage has caused further trauma for the victims' families, who were promised they would be able to view the footage in a controlled setting before it was made public. It also raises concerns about the security of surveillance footage and the protection of victims' privacy.

The details

The footage showed moments of panic inside the student union as bystanders realized what was unfolding, as well as the moment an FSU police officer took down the suspect, Phoenix Ikner, to arrest him. However, the State Attorney's Office said 'some protected records were mistakenly released' when fulfilling a previous records request, and an ongoing review is underway to address and remove the records that were inadvertently released.

  • The shooting occurred on April 17, 2025 at around 11:50 a.m. local time.
  • The footage was recently released, but the State Attorney's Office said it should never have been made public.

The players

Phoenix Ikner

The suspect accused of opening fire at the FSU student union, killing two people and injuring five others.

Jack Campbell

The State Attorney who said the release of the footage 'blindsided' the victims' families and that he had promised them they could view the footage first in a controlled setting.

Jason Trumbower

The FSU Police Chief who praised the officer who shot down Ikner for his heroism.

Lawrence Revell

The Tallahassee Police Chief who said the suspect was taken into custody with 'serious but non-life-threatening injuries' after being shot by campus police.

Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba

The two victims who were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“Two wrongs don't make a right. Just because I made one mistake doesn't mean I should make another.”

— Jack Campbell, State Attorney

“We blindsided them.”

— Jack Campbell, State Attorney

“Are you the one who shot him?”

— Jason Trumbower, FSU Police Chief

“I shot him, yes, sir.”

— FSU Police Officer

“OK, good job. You good?”

— Jason Trumbower, FSU Police Chief

What’s next

The State Attorney's Office is conducting an ongoing review of pending records requests to address and remove the records that were inadvertently released.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for strict protocols and safeguards when handling sensitive footage and evidence, especially in cases involving victims and their families. The accidental release has caused further trauma and underscores the importance of respecting the privacy and wishes of those affected by such tragedies.