A tragic incident unfolded at Florida State University, where gunfire erupted, resulting in the loss of two lives and injuries to six others. The shooting incident left the Tallahassee campus in a state of shock as students scrambled for safety from the student union, prompting a swift lockdown of the area.
Identified by authorities, the shooter, Phoenix Ikner, is a 20-year-old student at the university and stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. Allegedly using his stepmother’s former service weapon, Ikner began firing but was ultimately shot and wounded by responding officers after he disregarded their instructions. The motive behind this mid-day attack on Thursday remains undetermined.
While officials have yet to release the names of the deceased publicly, reports have surfaced regarding the identities of the victims. Robert Morales, a dedicated university employee with a long-standing tenure at Florida State, was one of those killed, according to family confirmations. The other victim, Tiru Chabba, held a key position at a food service vendor, as communicated by the family’s legal representatives.
Robert Morales had served as a dining coordinator at the university since 2015, a role that was close to his heart. As per his social media narrative, Ricardo Morales Jr., Robert’s brother, expressed the deep sorrow of losing him, emphasizing his love for his job and his family. Besides his university duties, Morales had a rich past, studying criminology in the early 1990s, and for some time, he was the head of Black Bean Food Group, although state records indicate the business dissolved several years back.
Distinguished for his inventive culinary work, especially in Cuban cuisine, Morales was also recognized for his contributions to local high school football as an assistant coach, acknowledged by Kyle Clark, a senior vice president at Florida State during a Friday vigil. Morales’s father was well-known in different circles as a former CIA operative and his adventurous life is detailed in an upcoming biographical book titled “Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad.”
Chabba, employed by Aramark on the campus, was described as passionate about his work and had a profound impact due to his extensive tenure spanning over two decades. Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for the family’s attorneys, confirmed this, underlining Chabba’s dedication as a regional vice president for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. He left behind a spouse and two children, carrying a legacy of both a loving family man and a seasoned professional. The family’s legal representative, Bakari Sellers, touched upon the personal loss Chabba’s family must face, expressing the depth of their heartache.
The narrative surrounding these events aims to clarify that the suspect involved in this grievous act was related to a sheriff’s deputy, emphasizing the complexity and personal connections interwoven in the tragedy that beset the Florida State community.