FSU shooting victims identified, as police search for motive in deadly campus attack

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida State University community is reeling and police are searching for a motive after a gunman opened fire on the Tallahassee campus on Thursday, killing two and injuring six.

When the suspect, 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, was confronted by responders, he didn't comply with commands and was shot by officers, authorities said. He's expected to survive, Tallahassee police said.

One of the two people killed has been identified as Robert Morales.

Leon High School in Tallahassee said Morales was previously the assistant football coach at the school.

It was not immediately clear how Morales was connected to FSU.

Food services company Aramark said one of its employees was killed in the shooting.

The second victim killed has been identified as a 45-year-old father of two, Tiru Chabba, according to a news release from a law firm.

His family has hired attorneys, the release said.

Chabba of Greenville, South Carolina was on campus as a vendor, the release said.

"We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community," the company said.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said two of the six injured victims are expected to be discharged on Friday. Three patients have improved and are in good condition, while one victim remains in fair condition, the hospital said Friday.

McKenzie Heeter, a 20-year-old junior, told ABC News she was just feet away from the gunman when he shot a woman wearing scrubs by the student union.

MORE | 'I've never run that fast in my life': Florida State student who saw gunman fire recounts shooting

The shooter was "waving around a bigger rifle ... and then he pulled out the handgun and shot that woman," Heeter said.

"Her back was to him, she was just walking. I don't even think she registered what happened," she said. "That's what I just keep thinking about."

Heeter described sprinting across campus in sheer panic.

"I did a four-minute mile in sandals. I've never run that fast in my life," she said. "I felt like I have got to leave, or else it could be me next."

Officials revealed that the suspect's stepmother, Jessica Ikner, is a current deputy with the local Leon County Sheriff's Office. While authorities identified Jessica Ikner as the suspect's mother, court documents indicate she is his stepmother.

She has taken an indefinite personal leave of absence.

She was on duty as a school resource officer at a middle school when the shooting occurred. The Leon County Sheriff's Department launched an internal investigation, but has so far not found any signs that the veteran deputy violated any policies.

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Phoenix Ikner had access to one of his stepmother's personal weapons, which was one of the weapons found at the scene, Sheriff Walter McNeil said.

The suspect was also a "long-standing member" of the Leon County Sheriff's Office's Youth Advisory Council, McNeil said.

He was "engaged in a number of training programs that we have," the sheriff said, adding, "Not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons."

Ikner did not have a criminal record.

In a statement to the Florida State University community, President Richard McCullough called the shooting a "tragic and senseless act of violence."

FSU has canceled classes and sporting events through the weekend. A vigil is set for Friday at 5 p.m.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he has an "obligation to protect" the Second Amendment when asked by a reporter in the Oval Office if he sees anything "broken" with Americas current gun laws.

"Look, I'm a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn't do the shooting. The people do. It's a phrase that's used probably too often," Trump said.

"I will tell you that it's a shame," he said of the shooting.

ABC News' Faith Abubey and Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.