When you hear about a shooting on a college campus, your mind immediately jumps to the worst possible place. For the Florida State community, the name Myron May is etched into a very specific, cold November night back in 2014. If you're looking for a quick answer to the question: is FSU shooter dead, the answer is yes. He was killed by police during the incident.
But it wasn't just a simple "active shooter" situation. This wasn't some random outsider. It was an alum. An attorney. Someone who, on paper, should have been a success story. Instead, he ended up face down on a ramp outside the Strozier Library while hundreds of terrified students barricaded themselves behind bookshelves.
The Chaos at Strozier: Is the FSU Shooter Dead?
On November 20, 2014, around 12:30 a.m., things went south fast. It was "Club Stroz" season—the time of year when the library is packed with 400 to 500 students cramming for midterms or finals. Suddenly, a man with a .380 semi-automatic pistol started shooting.
He didn't make it deep into the library because of security barriers, but he managed to wound three people. One was an employee, Nathan Scott, and two were students. The police response was incredibly fast. Within minutes, officers from the Tallahassee Police Department and FSU PD confronted May outside the library.
Is the FSU shooter dead? Yes, the police ordered him to drop his weapon, he refused and fired a shot at them, and they unleashed a volley of gunfire. May died right there at the scene. He was 31 years old.
Why People Are Still Searching This in 2026
You might wonder why this is popping up in your feed now. Honestly, it's probably because of the April 2025 shooting at FSU. History sort of repeated itself, though the details were different. In that more recent 2025 incident, the suspect—identified by police as Phoenix Ikner—was also shot by responding officers after killing two people and injuring others near the student union.
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Unlike Myron May, the 2025 shooter didn't die immediately; he was hospitalized and later charged with murder. So, when people ask about the "FSU shooter," there’s often a bit of confusion between the 2014 Strozier Library event and the 2025 Student Union tragedy.
The Tragic Backstory of Myron May
Myron May wasn't a "typical" criminal. He was an FSU grad (class of 2005) who went on to Texas Tech Law School. He practiced law in Texas and New Mexico. By all accounts, he was "Sensitive Joe," a guy people liked.
But something broke.
By the time he drove back to Florida, he was convinced the government was spying on him. He believed he was a "targeted individual." He kept journals and recorded videos detailing his paranoia—claims that the police were bugging his car and that he was hearing voices. He even sent "mystery packages" to friends right before the shooting to "expose" the conspiracy he thought he was trapped in.
It’s a classic, heartbreaking case of a mental health spiral that nobody saw coming until it was too late. His friends were devastated. They remembered him as smart and kind, not a gunman.
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Comparing the Incidents
It helps to look at these side-by-side because the "FSU shooter" isn't just one person in the university's history.
- 2014 (Strozier Library): The shooter, Myron May, was an alum. He wounded three. He was killed on the spot by police.
- 2025 (Student Union): The shooter, Phoenix Ikner, was a 20-year-old student. He killed two (including FSU staffer Robert Morales). He survived the initial police shootout and was later taken into custody.
People often conflate these two because both involved police-involved shootings on the same campus.
What Actually Happened to the Victims?
In the 2014 shooting, everyone survived except for May. Nathan Scott, the library worker, was shot in the leg but recovered. The other two students were also okay, though obviously traumatized.
In the 2025 shooting, the outcome was much grimmer. Two people lost their lives, including a beloved dining coordinator. The ripple effect on the Tallahassee community was huge.
The Aftermath and Safety Today
FSU has changed a lot since May's breakdown. They’ve beefed up security at "Club Stroz." You can't just wander in anymore; you need that FSU ID, and the turnstiles are no joke. The school also pushes the "Run, Hide, Fight" training hard.
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If you're a student or a parent, it’s worth knowing that the 2014 shooter is long gone, and the 2025 shooter is in the legal system.
Actionable Steps for Students and Locals
If these stories make you uneasy, here is what you can actually do:
- Register for FSU Alerts: If you haven't already, make sure your phone number is current in the system. These alerts are the only reason the death toll wasn't higher in either case.
- Know the "Blue Lights": Learn where the emergency stations are on Landis Green and near the libraries.
- Mental Health Resources: If you see a friend acting like May—talking about being "targeted" or showing extreme paranoia—don't just ignore it. Reach out to FSU's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).
The 2014 FSU shooter is dead, but the conversation about campus safety and mental health is very much alive. Stay aware of your surroundings, especially during those late-night study sessions at Strozier.
What to do next: If you're feeling anxious about campus safety, you can download the SeminoleSAFE app. It has a "Friend Walk" feature that lets a friend watch you walk home via GPS, which is a solid bit of peace of mind.