On April 17, a tragic shooting at Florida State University (FSU) claimed the lives of two individuals, as identified by their families. The victims were Robert Morales, a dining coordinator at FSU, and Tiru Chabba, a regional vice president with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.
Robert Morales’s brother, Ricardo Jr., shared the heartbreaking news on social media, expressing sorrow over the loss of his younger brother. He described Robert as someone who loved his job at the university and cherished his family, including his wife and daughter. Friends remembered Morales as a co-founder of a popular Cuban restaurant, Gordos Cuban Cuisine, in Tallahassee, and he was also an assistant football coach at Leon High School. The school expressed deep sadness over his passing, noting that he was a respected mentor who made a significant impact on young athletes.
Meanwhile, Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two from Greenville, South Carolina, was confirmed as the other victim by the Strom Law Firm. He was working for Aramark, which provides food services to various universities. Aramark acknowledged the loss of one of their employees in a statement, expressing their condolences to his family and community.
National civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, representing the Chabba family, described the family’s ordeal as unimaginable, as they are now facing a tragic reality without their loved one.
The shooting occurred around noon at the FSU student union building, resulting in the deaths of Morales and Chabba, and leaving six others injured. The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, who was reportedly the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. He was also injured during the incident and taken to the hospital.
During the chaos, the university issued a lockdown alert to keep students safe, advising them to lock their doors and stay away from windows. The lockdown was lifted later in the afternoon.
In the wake of this tragedy, FSU is planning a vigil to honor the victims and provide a space for the community to come together in remembrance.
