A tragic shooting incident at Florida State University resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to six others. The gunman opened fire near the student union, causing chaos and leading to a campus lockdown in Tallahassee, Florida.
Authorities identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student at Florida State and the son of a sheriff’s deputy. He used his mother’s former service weapon to execute the attack. Despite officers’ commands, Ikner refused to comply and was subsequently shot and wounded by the police. As of now, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The victims have not yet been publicly named by officials. However, family members have identified university employee Robert Morales as one of the deceased. Lawyers representing the family of the second victim have identified him as Tiru Chabba, an executive in the food service industry.
Robert Morales
Robert Morales, a beloved university dining coordinator, had been part of Florida State University since 2015. His brother, Ricardo Morales Jr., expressed his grief on social media, highlighting Robert’s dedication to his job and his family. Robert studied criminology at the university in the early 1990s and was once listed as the CEO of Black Bean Food Group, a business dissolved approximately ten years ago.
The Morales family has a notable history, with their father, Ricardo Morales, being a Cuban exile and CIA operative known for his adventurous and controversial career. His life as a covert operative is detailed in an upcoming book by Ricardo Morales Jr., titled “Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad.”
Tiru Chabba
Tiru Chabba, who was working for Aramark, a food service vendor, at the time of his death, was also a victim of this senseless act. Chabba held a position as the regional vice president of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality and had dedicated more than two decades to the company. Living in Greenville, South Carolina, Chabba was a devoted husband and father of two, with an MBA from The Citadel.
The family’s spokesperson, Michael Wukela, emphasized the profound impact of this loss. Attorney Bakari Sellers, representing Chabba’s family, described the devastation faced by his clients, noting the violence that abruptly ended the life of a cherished father and husband.
