News Summary
A mass shooting at Florida State University on April 17 has left two dead and six injured, prompting calls for gun law reform. The shooter, a 20-year-old student, used a firearm belonging to a law enforcement officer. A vigil was held for the victims, and protests against proposed gun legislation took place shortly after the incident. This shooting marks Florida’s sixth mass shooting of the year, raising urgent concerns about safety on school campuses and the need for mental health support and legislative change.
Tallahassee, Florida – A tragic mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on April 17 has left two people dead and six others injured, igniting widespread calls for gun law reform. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, used a firearm reportedly belonging to his stepmother, a deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, to carry out the attack at the FSU Student Union around noon.
The victims who lost their lives in this incident were Tiru Chabba, 45, a father and employee of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, and Robert Morales, 57, a university dining coordinator and football coach at Leon High School. Following the tragedy, a candlelight vigil was held on campus, drawing thousands of community members to pay their respects.
In response to the shooting, approximately 200 students, faculty, and community members gathered to march through Tallahassee, advocating for sensible gun laws and opposing House Bill 759. This controversial bill, which seeks to lower the minimum age for purchasing long guns from 21 to 18, has been under consideration by the Florida Senate since early April but has not yet been acted upon.
The swift response from law enforcement included neutralizing the suspect within two minutes of receiving the first emergency call, setting the stage for immediate assistance to the injured. Five of the six wounded individuals have since been released from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. The remaining patient, believed to be Ikner, is reported to be in stable condition.
Witness accounts provide harrowing insights into the chaotic moments following gunfire, with students scrambling for safety, some barricading themselves in classrooms, and others resorting to pretending to be lifeless to evade detection by Ikner. This shooting incident has now been marked as the sixth mass shooting in Florida this year, intensifying apprehensions regarding gun violence, especially in educational institutions.
Following the tragedy, FSU’s faculty and staff have activated a range of support mechanisms for students impacted by the event. These measures include optional attendance policies and grade freezes to accommodate those grappling with the aftermath of the shooting. The FSU administration, led by President Richard McCullough, has expressed solidarity with the victims’ families while emphasizing the need for healing and transparency in this incident.
Moreover, the shooter had a reported history of far-right and potentially white supremacist views, having been removed from a political discourse club at Tallahassee State College due to his expressed beliefs. This has spurred discussions about mental health support and necessary institutional changes to prevent future occurrences of violence on campus.
As the community mourns the loss of Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales, the Chabba family has engaged legal representation to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to Tiru’s death, highlighting their quest for accountability and clarity regarding the incident.
The sentiment for gun control reform is gaining traction, further reflected by a moment of silence observed in the Florida Senate in memory of the victims. The heightened focus on mental health support and legislative changes underscores the deepening concerns surrounding campus safety and the urgent need for effective solutions to combat gun violence in the state.
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee.com: Attorneys of FSU Shooting Victim Call for Transparency
- NBC News: Florida State University Active Shooter Live Blog
- CNN: Gunman in FSU Shooting
- New York Times: FSU Shooting Suspect and Victims
- Google Search: FSU Shooting April 2025
