Florida State University shooting: Classes to resume, in-person attendance not mandatory

Classes at Florida State University (FSU) will resume on Monday, four days after a deadly shooting on its campus left two people dead and six others injured, officials announced.

However, students and instructors will have the option of holding classes remotely or in-person, depending on the class.

"The school has waived all mandatory attendance policies which could affect grades, so students won't be punished if they choose not to go to class in-person," FSU president Richard McCullough wrote in a letter to its students and faculty.

According to McCullough, students can also request an incomplete grade for their class if they feel they are unable to complete a course.

“We want everyone to receive the support and help they need. For some students, that may mean not going back into the classroom. For others, the idea of community and gathering, as well as the opportunity to focus on academics, may be beneficial. There is no single right answer for everyone,” his letter read.

Authorities have identified Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old FSU student, as the gunman behind the April 18 shooting. Police said Ikner, the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy, arrived on campus an hour before the shooting, stayed near a parking garage before he walked in and out of buildings and green spaces while firing a handgun just before lunchtime.

In roughly four minutes, officers confronted Ikner and shot and wounded him, police said.

The two victims who died were Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator, and Tiru Chabba, an executive for food service vendor Aramark, according to their family members and attorneys for the families.