FSU shooting: Here's what we know about the victims; 2 killed, 6 hurt - Live updates
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Two people were killed, and six people were injured, in a mass shooting on Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida.
The 20-year-old suspect, a student at FSU and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) deputy, was shot and taken into custody, officials said.
Both of the two people killed have now been identified: Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba.
As FOX 35 learns more about the victims, we will continue to update our stories and coverage in the FOX Local app and on FOX35Orlando.com.
What we know about the victims
What we know:
Tallahassee police originally confirmed the two people killed in the shooting at FSU were not students, but did not elaborate further.
However, FSU President Richard D. McCullough confirmed Morales was one of the two killed at the school's vigil on Friday. He said Morales was a dining coordinator and had been with the school since 2015.
McCullough said Morales was a "dedicated colleague and kind person."
FSU Senior Vice President Kyle Clark also spoke about Morales and the other victim killed at the vigil.
"Their lives mattered, and they always will," he said. "Robert Morales was someone on my team that I knew and cared for very deeply. Robert was passionate about many things. His family, Florida State University, the Miami Dolphins and great food. Every day, you could find him in one of our dining locations, working alongside our chefs and our frontline employees, supporting our students, and ensuring that our operations meet the highest level of standards. He didn't just do a job, he lived the job. He was dedicated to the mission of service and care for the Florida State University community."
Clark said the school would not be identifying the second person killed in the shooting, as they are respecting the family's wishes.
However, Aramark later confirmed with FOX 35 News that Chabba was the second victim killed.
Robert Morales: FSU dining coordinator and restaurant owner
Morales' brother, according to media reports, took to X to remember her brother.
"Today we lost my younger brother," he said. "He was one of the victims killed at FSU."
A GoFundMe for Morales also appears to have been created by friends of his wife, according to the page. FOX 35 has reached out to GoFundMe to make sure that the account has been verified.
Carlos Cruz, a friend of Morales, spoke with FOX 35's Randi Hildreth on Friday to share some details about Morales' life. Cruz said Morales had attended FSU and would spend a lot of time walking around the Student Union, where his office was.
FSU shooting update: 2 dead, 6 hurt
Two people are dead and six others were hurt in a shooting at Florida State University's Student Union. The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, was shot by officers and taken to the hospital. Officials said he is a current student at FSU and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy.
Cruz said Morales was passionate about food, opening a popular restaurant in Tallahassee called "Gordo’s" and later left it to lead dining services at FSU. Cruz said Morales often talked with students about their dining experience to try and make it better for them.
Cruz also shared that Morales had received a new kidney a few years ago, but wasn’t doing well, and he had just gotten on the list to get a new one before he was killed.
Morales was also a former coach at Lean County High School. The school posted a tribute to Morales on X.
"Coach Morales was a beloved member of our athletic community and served as an assistant coach for Leon Football with dedication, integrity and true passion for mentoring young athletes," the post said.
Tiru Chabba: Regional vice president at Aramark
Chabba is survived by his wife and two children.
Aramark officials told FOX 35 News that Chabba was the regional vice president of the company. They said he helped to distribute free lunches, donated by Aramark, on the Bob Jones University campus after Hurricane Helene in October.
"His care for others and joyful spirit were evident in the days following Hurricane Helene when he personally visited our campus to support recovery efforts and distribute free lunches to the community," Aramark officials said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time."
Tiru Chabba helps to deliver free lunches. (Credit: Bob Jones University)
Hospital: 6 victims expected to make full recovery
Many of the people hurt in the shooting suffered gunshot wounds to their face, torso and abdomen, hospital officials said during a Friday press conference.
All six were brought to the hospital in stable condition. Three of them had to undergo surgery, officials said. All of them are expected to make a full recovery.
Two were expected to be discharged from the hospital on Friday.
FSU shooting: Medical staff provide update on victims
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) medical staff who provided frontline emergency and trauma care to patients from Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University (FSU) held a news conference to deliver updates on the status of the patients. Officials said all six victims taken to the hospital following the shooting are expected to make a full recovery. Officials said the victims arrived in stable condition and had sustained gunshot wounds to various parts of the body, including the face and abdomen, with three of the victims requiring surgery. The hospital could not confirm the victims' ages or say whether the gunman was among the six people treated. At least two of the victims are expected to be discharged today, officials said.
FSU shooting timeline
The backstory:
Tallahassee police said the shooting at FSU was over in less than five minutes, leaving two people dead, six people hurt, hundreds scrambling for safety, and the alleged suspect being challenged, shot and taken into custody.
- 11AM: Suspect, Phoenix Ikner, arrives at an FSU parking garage. He stays there for about an hour, moving in and out of his vehicle.
- 11:51AM: Ikner leaves the parking garage.
- 11:56 & 11:57: First shot is fired. The suspect walks in and out of buildings and green spaces, firing a handgun.
- 11:58AM: Multiple 911 calls report a man shooting on campus.
- 12PM: Ikner is shot by law enforcement and taken into custody.
FSU issued its first emergency alert about a reported active shooter near the Student Union at 12:02 p.m., according to the timestamp on X.
Around 3 p.m. police said that the campus had been secured and that officers were continuing to clear each room.
Around 3:30 p.m, officials shared that law enforcement had neutralized the threat.
At 4:30 p.m., officials held a press conference and confirmed the initial details about the shooting, including causalities, injuries and the suspect's identity. Authorities said two people had been killed, and six others were injured during the shooting.
Who is Phoenix Ikner? What we know about FSU shooting suspect
What we know:
Tallahassee police identified the suspect in the FSU shooting as Ikner, a 20-year-old student at FSU, and the son of a LCSO school resource deputy.
According to the department's website, Ikner's mom works as an SRO at a Leon County middle school.
Officials said Ikner was armed with a handgun and had a shotgun with him, though it is not clear if he shot anyone with the shotgun. A handgun was recovered at the scene of the shooting, officials said.
Ikner also declined to talk with law enforcement after he was taken into custody, invoking his fifth amendment right.
FSU shooting: Accused shooter was known to law enforcement
Two people were killed and six others were injured when a gunman opened fired on the Florida State University (FSU) campus on Thursday, officials said. The alleged gunman was shot by police and taken into custody. He's been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at FSU and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy, officials said.
Officials said Ikner had a long history with the LCSO and was a member of their citizen or youth advisory council. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said it was not surprising that he had access to guns or knew how to work them.
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The Source: Tallahassee Memorial Hospital held a press conference on Friday, April 18, 2025, to provide updates on the shooting victims. The Tallahassee Police Department also released a new timeline of the Florida State Unievrsity (FSU) shooting. Additional information was gathered from police statements and FSU statements.