Students at Florida State University (FSU) found themselves in a terrifying situation on Thursday when a mass shooting broke out near campus. Amid chaos and panic, students used unconventional methods to protect themselves—one group even used chewing gum to cover classroom windows, while another student survived by pretending to be dead.
Chewing gum used to block classroom windows
Jeffrey LaFray, a student at FSU, described how he and his classmates acted swiftly when they heard gunshots close by. He told Good Morning America that their teacher wanted to block the windows with paper to prevent the shooter from seeing inside the classroom. However, without any tape on hand, the students came up with a creative solution.
“The teacher was asking if any of us had tape to tape up some paper. And no one had tape, and so some of us, we just got out our gum and started chewing so we could stick some paper to the windows,” LaFray recounted.
This quick thinking provided a vital shield as the students tried to stay hidden.
Survivor plays dead after being shot
Another chilling survival story came from 23-year-old Madison Askins, an FSU graduate student. Askins recalled the moment she was shot while walking with a friend near a union building. She was hit in the buttocks and fell to the ground.
“When I was shot in the buttocks from behind, I fell to the ground, kept my eyes shut, and played dead,” she told ABC News. “I released all the muscles in my body, closed my eyes, and held my breath. And I would take short breaths in between when I needed to.”
Askins said her only hope was to avoid being noticed again by the shooter. “I know for certain if I was moving, he would’ve shot me again,” she added. She described how chaos unfolded around her, with students fleeing in all directions as the gunman reloaded and shouted, “Keep running.”
Shooter identified, victims confirmed
The suspected shooter, identified as the stepson of a local deputy sheriff, used a former service weapon belonging to his stepmother. Authorities named the suspect as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. He was shot by police during the confrontation and is currently hospitalised. Two people were killed in the incident, and five others sustained injuries.
Ongoing investigation and community response
Law enforcement continues to investigate the motives behind the attack. The university and surrounding community have expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event. The shooting has renewed concerns about campus safety and sparked conversations on mental health and gun control.
Despite the trauma, the stories of quick thinking and survival—like using chewing gum to shield a classroom or lying motionless to avoid detection—highlight the courage and resilience of the students caught in the crisis.
