Christopher Ikner’s Son: How FSU Suspect’s Mother Spirited Him Overseas at Age 10

The suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU), which left two dead and six injured, has been identified as Phoenix Ikner, 20—a young man with a tumultuous childhood, a history of far-right extremism, and a fractured family background.

Who Is Phoenix Ikner?

• Birth Name: Christian Gunnar Eriksen (changed legally to Phoenix Ikner as a teen).
• Background: Son of Christopher Ikner and Anne-Mari Eriksen, with dual U.S.-Norwegian citizenship.
• Developmental Struggles: Court records reveal he had ADHD, a growth hormone disorder, and required medication as a child.
• Education: Attended Lincoln High School before enrolling at FSU.

Ikner’s early life was marked by a bitter custody dispute:

• 2015: His biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, took him to Norway without his father’s consent, violating custody agreements.
• Arrest & Jail Time: When she returned to the U.S., she was arrested, served 200 days in jail, and was ordered to have no contact with her son.
• Failed Lawsuit: She later sued Christopher Ikner and his wife, Jessica Ikner (a Leon County sheriff’s deputy), for slander, but the case was dismissed.

Far-Right Extremism & Expulsion from Political Group

Former classmates and associates describe Ikner as deeply entrenched in far-right ideology:

• Fervent Trump Supporter: Went “beyond conservatism” into extremist rhetoric.
• White Supremacy Claims: Expelled from a Tallahassee political discussion group after promoting white nationalist views, including rants about “the ravages of multiculturalism and communism.”

The Shooting & Aftermath

• Weapon Used: Ikner allegedly used his stepmother’s service weapon (she is a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy).
• Mother’s Reaction: Anne-Mari Eriksen posted (then deleted) a Facebook rant blaming her ex-husband and his wife for failing to communicate about the incident.
• No Clear Motive Yet: Investigators are still piecing together why he opened fire.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed Ikner’s arrest but expressed “heartbreak” over the deputy’s connection to the suspect. Meanwhile, FSU students and faculty are grappling with the tragedy, as questions swirl about missed warning signs.