How these Florida State University students used chewing gum to escape campus shooting

A Florida State University student has shared his terrifying experience during Thursday’s mass shooting, describing how he and classmates resorted to chewing gum in order to stick paper over classroom windows as gunfire erupted just outside.
According to reporting by the New York Post, Jeffrey LaFray, a student at FSU, recounted the quick-thinking moment during an interview on Good Morning America. As gunshots rang out, LaFray said their professor wanted to block the windows to hide the class from the shooter — but they had no tape.
“The teacher was asking if any of us had tape to tape up some paper,” LaFray told GMA, as quoted by the New York Post. “And no one had tape, and so some of us, we just got out gum and started chewing so we could stick some paper to the windows.”
The shooting suspect has been identified as Phoenix Ikner, 20, a current FSU student and the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, according to law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post. Authorities said Ikner used his stepmother’s former service weapon to carry out the attack.
The Post reported that two people were killed and five others wounded in the attack. Police confirmed that Ikner refused to comply with commands when confronted and was shot by officers. He remains hospitalized and is expected to survive.
Among the victims were two Aramark employees: Tiru Chabba, 45, and Robert Morales, who were both confirmed dead, according to the New York Post.
The rampage began near the campus student union. Harrowing footage obtained by the Post shows the shooter walking through the area and firing multiple rounds. One graduate student, Madison Askins, 23, was struck by a bullet while walking with a friend. She fell to the ground and played dead to avoid being shot again.
“I released all the muscles in my body, closed my eyes, and held my breath,” Askins told ABC News, as cited in the New York Post report. “I know for certain if I was moving, he would’ve shot me again.”
Askins said she heard the gunman reload and mutter “Keep running” as other students fled the scene in panic.
First responders quickly arrived on campus, with heavily armed officers moving in to secure the area. Students were placed on lockdown for hours until the threat was neutralized and the suspect was taken into custody, according to the Post.
The New York Post also reported that Ikner’s family background is drawing attention. His biological mother had previously expressed concerns for his mental health, and his grandmother went so far as to publicly blame his parents, calling them “rotten bastard people.”
As of Friday, a motive for the shooting had not been officially confirmed.