A horrific shooting incident unfolded at Florida State University on Thursday, evoking painful memories for those who had previously experienced similar tragedies. Among them is Stephanie Horowitz, a graduate student at the university, who was transported back to her teenage years at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Parkland massacre. Although Horowitz neither saw the gunman nor heard the shots, the eerie silence and abandoned belongings across the sprawling campus hinted at the grim reality she was all too familiar with.
This tragic event marks the second time Horowitz has found herself in such circumstances, underscoring the unpredictable nature of violence in educational institutions. “You never imagine it will happen to you once, let alone twice,” she reflects, as she navigates the emotional aftermath of yet another school shooting.
The incident, which resulted in the death of two individuals and injuries to six others, was perpetrated by a 20-year-old student, identified by authorities as Phoenix Ikner. The shooting occurred around lunchtime near a student union building on campus. Ikner, who is also the son of a sheriff’s deputy, sustained injuries that are not life-threatening and is currently hospitalized.
For other students like Logan Rubenstein, the shooting was a stark reminder of past trauma. As an eighth grader, Rubenstein had to shelter in place during the Parkland massacre. He expresses regret that despite efforts to prevent future occurrences, he now faces a second shooting. “What we went through, we made it our mission to ensure this could never happen again,” Rubenstein shares.
The Parkland shooting remains one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, claiming 17 lives and wounding 17 others on Valentine’s Day in 2018. Experts note that experiencing multiple traumatic events can significantly hinder emotional recovery, as progress is often reset with each new incident.
Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was killed in Parkland, experienced a wave of panic upon learning there was an active shooter at Florida State University, where her son Robbie is a student. Thankfully, he left the student union about 20 minutes before the shooting commenced. Alhadeff emphasizes the urgency of preventing such incidents, stating, “This should have not been my son’s second experience with a school shooting. We need to do better.”