Shootings
Live Blog EndedApr 18, 2025

Men killed identified, other victims recover after deadly Florida State shooting

One of the men killed was the founder of Gordos Cuban Cuisine, a popular restaurant

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FSU students expressed their anger after yet another shooting on campus. Meanwhile, the community came together for a solemn vigil for the victims. NBC6’s Jamie Guirola reports

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What to Know

The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two men and wounding six others, investigators said.

APR 1810:50 PM EDT

PHOTOS: FSU remembers shooting victims in somber vigil

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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Community members, students, and faculty gathered for a vigil honoring the victims of the Florida State University shooting on April 18, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. Two people were reported killed and several others injured when the suspected shooter, believed to be a student and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, opened fire on the university's main campus on Thursday. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Community members, students, and faculty gathered for a vigil honoring the victims of the Florida State University shooting on April 18, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. Two people were reported killed and several others injured when the suspected shooter, believed to be a student and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, opened fire on the university's main campus on Thursday. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)
Getty Images
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Community members, students, and faculty gathered for a vigil honoring the victims of the Florida State University shooting on April 18, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. Two people were reported killed and several others injured when the suspected shooter, believed to be a student and the son of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, opened fire on the university's main campus on Thursday. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)
APR 189:51 PM EDT

The alleged shooter's earlier years

The suspect was a longstanding member of the Leon County Sheriff’s youth advisory council, police said. The group was created to build communication between young people and local law enforcement while also teaching teens leadership and team-building skills.

He was a junior at FSU studying political science after earning an associates degree last fall from Tallahassee State College, university spokeswoman Amy Farnum-Patronis confirmed.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive.

When Ikner was a child, his parents were involved in several custody disputes with his biological mother, court records show.

In 2015, when he was 10, his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, said she was taking him to South Florida for spring break in 2015 but instead traveled to Norway. After returning to the U.S., she pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She later moved to vacate her plea, but that was denied.

APR 188:37 PM EDT

‘It's not fair': FSU student angry over mass shooting

FSU shooting infuriates students: ‘It's not fair this keeps happening'
FSU students expressed their anger after yet another shooting on campus. Meanwhile, the community came together for a solemn vigil for the victims. NBC6's Jamie Guirola reports

Miriam Alrahil returned to the scene of the crime to pick up her belongings a day after a gunman opened fire on the campus of Florida State University on Thursday.

"That is so frustrating and angering," she said. "This shouldn’t have been an issue. I should be graduating in two weeks, it should be a happy time, and now we’re here gathering our stuff, mourning people we lost, praying for people who are injured."

She had a powerful message for legislators.

"It's not fair this keeps happening in Florida; it's not fair it keeps happening in the U.S. And I don’t know if there’s a quota of how many people have to die before they put gun legislation. If that’s the case, I’ll put down my life right now to meet that quota."

APR 188:10 PM EDT

State gun laws back in the spotlight

Florida gun laws in spotlight after FSU shooting
State laws are back in the spotlight after the FSU shooting. NBC6's Steve Litz reports

Florida's gun laws are back in the spotlight after the FSU shooting. Lawmakers have already been discussing gun-related bills.

One former state lawmaker says maybe the victims in yesterday's shooting would have fared better if guns were permitted on college campuses.

His thinking is law law-abiding citizens, who are armed, could’ve taken the shooter out and not have to wait for police.

APR 187:16 PM EDT

A dreadful déjà vu for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School grads at FSU

A dreadful déjà vu for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School grads at FSU

Every time there’s a school shooting anywhere, it strikes a nerve in Parkland, and over the past 24 hours, the Florida State University students from the community are feeling a dreadful sense of déjà vu. NBC6’s Ari Odzer reports

Every time there’s a school shooting anywhere, it strikes a nerve in Parkland, and over the past 24 hours, the Florida State University students from the community are feeling a dreadful sense of déjà vu.

Someone firing a gun on campus, everyone going into lockdown mode, a sense of panic. The graduates from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School know that feeling. 

“It stayed with me for a very, very long time after, and I think yesterday just kind of resurfaced a lot of those feelings in probably the worst way possible,” said MSD High School graduate and FSU sophomore Alexis Weinberg. “I started to panic, honestly, because I was just, I was thinking there’s no way this is happening again, this can’t be real, and all I could think about is I can’t believe I have to text people and make sure they’re alive for the second time.”

“I immediately went into panic mode, brought me back to 2/14,” said Broward School Board member Lori Alhadeff, referring to Feb. 14, 2018, the day a gunman killed 17 people inside MSD High School.

Read Full Article

APR 186:17 PM EDT

FSU shooting infuriates students: ‘It's not fair this keeps happening'

FSU shooting infuriates students: ‘It's not fair this keeps happening'
FSU students expressed their anger after yet another shooting on campus. Meanwhile, the community came together for a solemn vigil for the victims. NBC6's Jamie Guirola reports
APR 186:11 PM EDT

‘I wanted to keep playing dead': Student shot by FSU gunman recounts terrifying ordeal

‘I wanted to keep playing dead': Student shot by FSU gunman recounts terrifying ordeal

A Florida State University graduate student who was shot by a gunman in Thursday’s campus shooting is recounting her terrifying ordeal as she recovers at a Tallahassee hospital.

Madison Askins spoke Friday from her hospital bed, saying she played dead as the gunman continued to open fire right next to her and believes that may have saved her life.

A Florida State University graduate student who was shot by a gunman in Thursday's campus shooting is recounting her terrifying ordeal as she recovers at a Tallahassee hospital.

Madison Askins spoke Friday from her hospital bed, saying she played dead as the gunman continued to open fire right next to her and believes that may have saved her life.

Askins, who's studying urban and regional planning at FSU, said she was going to lunch with a friend at the student union when the gunfire erupted.

"We heard some gunshots, we didn't know where it was coming from, so we both ducked and looked around, cause I didn't want to run toward the gunshots, so I tend to just look around and make sure that everything's safe," Askins said. "I heard more gunshots from him, I took off running after my friend, unfortunately I tripped and fell, as one does, apparently, I'm not always the most graceful person, so I tripped and fell, my friend tried to help me up but I ended up getting shot, and I felt it pretty quickly. He took off into the union."

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APR 185:38 PM EDT

Victim's dedication as FSU's dining coordinator: ‘He lived the job'

FSU Senior Vice President Kyle Clark said he knew and "cared deeply" for Robert Morales.

At the vigil, Clark remembered Morales' dedication as dining coordinator at FSU. He recalled that Morales worked directly with the school chefs to ensure meals for a student with severe allergies were safe and nourishing.

"He didn't just do a job, he lived the job," Clark said.

Out of respect for the second victim's family, Clark didn't mention him by name.

"Their lives mattered, and they always will," he said.

APR 185:17 PM EDT

Questions loom over alleged FSU gunman's access to stepmother's weapon

Questions loom over alleged FSU gunman's access to stepmother's weapon
The suspected FSU shooter is the son of a local sheriff’s deputy who, according to authorities, was carrying her former service weapon which is now her personal gun. As NBC6's Myriam Masihy tells us, this is raising questions about gun owner responsibility.
APR 185:15 PM EDT

‘There's no manual on how we feel': Emotional FSU president speaks at vigil

‘There's no manual on how we feel': Emotional FSU president speaks at vigil
FSU President Richard D. McCullough reassured the community in a vigil Friday for the shooting victims.
APR 184:49 PM EDT

FSU shooting victim's father was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative

Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator at Florida State who was identified as one of the men killed in Thursday's campus shooting, was the son of a Cuban exile turned CIA operative.

Family Photo
Robert Morales

Brother Ricardo Morales Jr. posted on social media late Thursday about the loss, saying Robert Morales left behind a wife and daughter.

The Morales brothers' father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname “Monkey.” Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his father's work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, “Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad,” which is expected to be published later this year.

“Dubbed ‘The Monkey’ for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen,” reads promotional material from publisher Simon & Schuster.

APR 184:30 PM EDT

Suspect's stepmother granted personal leave from sheriff's office

The stepmother of the alleged FSU shooter was granted personal leave from the Leon County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's officials said Deputy Jessica Ikner requested the leave on Friday. She was also reassigned to the department's property crimes unit.

Ikner was previously a school resource deputy, records show.

APR 184:08 PM EDT

Second man killed in Florida State shooting identified as 45-year-old father of 2

Second man killed in Florida State shooting identified as 45-year-old father of 2
The second man who died in the shooting at Florida State University has been identified as 45-year-old Tiru Chabba, the family’s attorneys confirmed.

The second man killed in Thursday's shooting at Florida State University has been identified as a father of two who was an employee of a campus vendor.

Tiru Chabba, of Greenville, South Carolina, leaves behind a wife and two children, according to attorneys hired by his family.

Chabba was on the FSU campus Thursday as an employee of a campus vendor when the gunman opened fire, killing him and Robert Morales, a native of Miami-Dade. Six other people were injured.

"Tiru Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now," attorney Bakari Sellers said in a statement Friday. "Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, they’re living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence."

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APR 183:47 PM EDT

FSU shooting victim remembered by school where he was assistant football coach

Robert Morales, one of the two men killed in Thursday's shooting at Florida State, is being remembered by the high school where he'd been an assistant football coach.

Morales had been a coach at Leon High School in Tallahassee, according to the school's athletics department, which released a statement on Friday.

"Coach Morales was a beloved member of our athletic community and served as an assistant coach for Leon Football with dedication, integrity, and a true passion for mentoring young athletes. His commitment to the game and to shaping the lives of his players extended far beyond the field. He was a trusted coach, a respected colleague, and a cherished friend to many.

The loss of Coach Morales is deeply felt by all of us at Leon High School, especially during this difficult and tragic time. Our hearts are heavy, and we will join the broader Tallahassee community in mourning his passing. His legacy of leadership, compassion, and service will forever remain a part of the Leon Lions tradition.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Morales family, his friends, and all who were touched by his life and work."

APR 182:44 PM EDT

Florida State gunman still hospitalized with ‘significant injuries': Chief

The alleged gunman in the Florida State shooting remained hospitalized Friday, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.

"He did receive significant injuries in this event, and will require a significant amount of time in that facility," Revell said. "Once he is released from that facility, he'll be taken to a local detention facility where he will face the charges up to and including first-degree murder."

Revell said it appears there is no connection between the alleged gunman, Phoenix Ikner, and the shooting victims.

"At this current time, there does not appear to be any connection between the shooter and again, even one of the victims," Revell said.

APR 182:00 PM EDT

FBI establishes digital tips media line for Florida State shooting

The FBI has established a digital tips media line for the Florida State shooting where people can upload photos and videos.

It's accessible at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.

Tallahassee Police said Friday that they're still interviewing witnesses and victims and that there's still an open investigation into the shooting.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact TPD at 850-891-4200.

APR 181:25 PM EDT

Tallahassee Police release timeline in Florida State shooting

The Tallahassee Police Department on Friday released a timeline of events in the Florida State shooting.

At approximately 11 a.m. – The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, arrives at an FSU parking garage. He stays in the area for an hour moving in and out of the vehicle.

At 11:51 a.m. – Ikner leaves the parking garage.

Between 11:56 and 11:57 a.m. – The first shot is fired. Ikner walks in and out of buildings and green spaces, firing a handgun, police said.

By 11:58 a.m. – Multiple 911 calls report a male actively shooting on campus, simultaneous to a police response by nearby officers.

APR 181:16 PM EDT

All FSU shooting victims expected to ‘make a full recovery': Surgeon

All of the victims wounded in the shooting at Florida State were expected to recover, one of the surgeons who treated them said Friday.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare staff who provided frontline emergency and trauma care to patients spoke at a news conference Friday afternoon to discuss their response and the patients' conditions.

Dr. Brett Howard, a trauma and general surgeon, said the patients were all "in rather stable condition" when they arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and extremities, with three taken to an operating room.

He would not clarify whether the suspect was among the six patients being treated.

As of Friday all were in stable condition with one's condition described as "fair" after suffering more serious injuries, Howard said.

APR 1812:35 PM EDT

Students attend memorial on campus as we learn more about victim Robert Morales

NBC6's Jamie Guirola spoke to students about the shooting on their campus, and what we know about the victim from Miami-Dade who impacted the FSU community in more ways than one.

Miami-Dade man who founded popular Cuban restaurant killed in FSU shooting: Friend
NBC6's Jamie Guirola spoke to students about the shooting on their campus, and what we know about the victim from Miami-Dade who impacted the FSU community in more ways than one.
APR 1812:08 PM EDT

Man killed in shooting was founder of Gordos, popular Cuban restaurant, friend says

Robert Morales, the South Florida man killed in the shooting at FSU, had graduated from the university, worked there for years and founded a very popular Cuban restaurant in Tallahassee, a friend said.

According to Carlos Cruz, Morales was one of the original founders of Gordos Cuban Cuisine, a favorite among students. He was a graduate of Hialeah Senior High School and Florida State University, where he worked as the dining director on campus.

Read the full story here.

APR 1811:58 AM EDT

Florida flags to fly at half-staff for FSU victims: DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims and recognize the first responders in the Florida State shooting.

The order applies to all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida until sunset on Monday, April 21.

APR 1811:41 AM EDT

‘I don't think any words can do it justice': FSU student athlete

Students dropped off balloons, candles and teddy bears at a memorial Friday morning near Florida State University's student union where a 20-year-old opened fire, killing two men and wounding six others.

Some returned to retrieve their belongings less than a day after after they had barricaded classroom doors and fled across campus, abandoning chemistry notes and even shoes. A pair of vigils were planned for the afternoon.

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Flowers honor the deceased and injured students near the scene of a shooting near the Florida State University student center on April 18, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)

“I don’t think any words can do it justice,” said Audrey Rothman, one of three members of the Florida State women’s volleyball team who brought flowers and held hands in a brief prayer circle.

APR 1811:15 AM EDT

A mound of flowers left for the shooting victims grows

Flowers at the scene of a shootingUSA Today Sports
Flowers at the scene of a shooting on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Florida on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
APR 1810:49 AM EDT

Hospital staff who treated victims of FSU shooting to speak Friday

Some of the hospital staffers who treated the victims of the Florida State University shooting were expected to speak Friday afternoon.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare staff who provided frontline emergency and trauma care to patients were expected to speak around 1 p.m.

APR 189:52 AM EDT

2 FSU shooting victims to be released from hospital, 3 others have improved

Two of the victims of the shooting at Florida State were expected to be released from the hospital on Friday, officials said.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare officials said another three patients have improved their conditions, while one person remains in fair condition.

Getty Images
A general view of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where multiple victims of the Florida State University shooting are being treated on April 18, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)

"We are grateful for the outpouring of support for our emergency, trauma, and nursing teams," the hospital said in a statement. "We are honored to be the hospital providing care to these patients."

APR 189:44 AM EDT

Miami Heat decries ‘senseless gun violence'

APR 189:27 AM EDT

Shooting suspect had changed his name in 2020

The shooting suspect now in custody, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, had changed his name in 2020, an FBI official told NBC News.

According to the official, Ikner had changed his name from Christian Gunner Eriksen.

The suspect is the 20-year-old son of a longtime sheriff's deputy in the Leon County Sheriff's Office, according to officials. He also is believed to be a current FSU student.

APR 189:14 AM EDT

Miami-Dade man who founded popular Cuban restaurant killed in FSU shooting

Miami-Dade man who founded popular Cuban restaurant killed in FSU shooting

Robert Morales, a South Florida native, was working in FSU’s dining services before he was killed in the shooting. NBC6’s Lorena Inclan reports

One of the two people killed in the shooting at Florida State University was a South Florida native, NBC Miami has learned.

People close to the family identified him as Robert Morales, of Miami-Dade County.

Morales died after a gunman opened fire on Thursday on the university campus. One other man was killed and at least six others were wounded.

According to friend Carlos Cruz, who has known the victim and his family for more than 30 years, Morales was one of the original founders of Gordos Cuban Cuisine, a very popular Cuban restaurant in Tallahassee.

Read Full Article

APR 188:23 AM EDT

Vigil set for 5 p.m. at Langford Green

The university said it would hold a vigil for the victims at 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue.  

A support center was also opened at the Askew Student Life Center and would operate from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, April 18.

"Counseling and Victim’s Advocate services will be available, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance," the school said.  

Students were encouraged to keep up with alerts at https://alerts.fsu.edu/.

APR 187:53 AM EDT

Students allowed to return to campus to pick up belongings

Students will be allowed to return to certain building on campus to pick up their belongings starting at 10 a.m. The buildings will be locked, but faculty, staff and volunteers will be assisting students with the process, the university said.

APR 187:27 AM EDT

FSU classes canceled today

All classes on the main FSU campus in Tallahassee are canceled today.

The university says students may return to their residence halls but they should otherwise stay indoors on the main campus to allow law enforcement and university staff to do their jobs and respond to those needing assistance. 

APR 187:23 AM EDT

Florida State gunman used deputy mom's former service weapon to kill 2 and wound 6, authorities say

The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two men and wounding at least six others, investigators said.

Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending frightened students and parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building.

Read the full story here.

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