{"id":45908,"date":"2025-11-14T00:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T00:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/45908\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T00:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T00:48:09","slug":"case-of-suspected-fsu-shooter-likely-headed-for-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/45908\/","title":{"rendered":"Case of suspected FSU shooter likely headed for trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A brief court hearing took place Thursday afternoon in connection to the suspect accused of killing two and injuring multiple others on Florida State University\u2019s campus<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n

But the most newsworthy thing may have come after the lightning-fast hearing, when the state attorney told WCTV that the case likely won\u2019t be pleaded out.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s important because capital murder suspects often accept pleas in exchange for life sentences, instead of the death penalty.<\/p>\n

But prosecutors don\u2019t have to offer such agreements, and they\u2019ve filed a notice that they\u2019re seeking the death penalty in this case.<\/p>\n

The hearing lasted less than two minutes. <\/p>\n

State Attorney Jack Campbell said the fact that the hearing took mere moments is a sign that things are on track. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe court is making itself available to both me and defense counsel so that if there is any problems that would cause a delay, he would rather address them now,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Ikner\u2019s hearing comes after a Leon County judge delayed his trial until October 2026<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201dIt\u2019s a lot more difficult for those who were injured and those who lost loved ones, but this is going to, we\u2019re coming into the first holiday season without their family members, so it\u2019s going to be extremely difficult,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Multiple killed, injured after shooting at Florida State University:<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old was initially expected to stand trial November 3. However, the trial was pushed back to March 30, 2026<\/a>, after he received new defense counsel<\/a> just eight weeks before the November trial date.<\/p>\n

In October, Judge Lance Neff approved a motion from Ikner\u2019s attorneys to push the trial back again, but this time to October 19, 2026. In its motion, the defense cited over 250 witnesses the State has listed, large amounts of electronic data, and \u201cpotentially hundreds if not thousands of hours of video.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, they argued they have two other capital murder trials to contend with early next year.<\/p>\n

The defense wanted much longer than October, Judge Neff wrote, including as much as a three year delay.<\/p>\n

He rejected that as \u201cunreasonable,\u201d writing an analogy that the atomic bomb was developed faster than that.<\/p>\n

\u201cCounsel did not even make an attempt to prepare within the timeframe before coming to this court seeking more time,\u201d Judge Neff wrote.<\/p>\n

In fact, the judge went so far as to order the defense team to compile a document each month showing what actions they have taken.<\/p>\n

So far, the judge wrote that won\u2019t be reviewed by the court, but could be at a later date.<\/p>\n

Ikner is set to have his next court hearing take place January 14 at 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

You can read Judge Neff\u2019s full order below: <\/p>\n

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