New Details On Victims, Accused Gunman In FL Mass Shooting

GREENVILLE, SC — New details about the gunman accused in the fatal Florida State University mass shooting last week, where two men died and several injured, have been released.

Additionally, one of the two men killed is set to be buried Friday, family attorneys said Wednesday.

The Strom Law Firm, representing Tiru Chabba's family, said the 45-year-old will be buried in Greenville, South Carolina, where he lived.

Chabba was visiting Florida State on Thursday on a work trip when a deputy's stepson opened fire around noon near the campus' Student Union, killing Chabba and FSU worker Robert Morales, Tallahassee Police said. Six people were injured in the deadly shooting.

About $148,000 has been raised as of Wednesday to provide financial assistance to Robert’s wife, Betty, and their daughter through a GoFundMe fundraiser. As of Tuesday morning, about $47,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe for Chabba’s family.

Five of those who were injured have been discharged from Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, the hospital reported Tuesday. A sixth person is in good condition, hospital officials stated.

Someone was injured while fleeing the scene but did not go to the hospital and was not among those who were shot, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

The accused gunman, Phoenix Ikner, could be hospitalized for several weeks, First Coast News reported. Ikner, whose stepmother is a deputy for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, is a 20-year-old FSU student.

During the violent tragedy, he was shot by an FSU officer, the Tallahassee Democrat reported, citing a Tuesday afternoon trustees meeting.

Ikner, who changed his name from Christian Gunnar Eriksen at 15 years old, was obsessed with Adolph Hitler and Nazis, the Democrat reported.

The Lincoln High School graduate had been a member of the 2021-22 Leon County Sheriff's Office Youth Advisory Council and had practiced shooting with his law-enforcement stepmother, authorities said.

The stepmother was reassigned from her job as a middle-school deputy and was placed on leave since the shooting.

Memorializing Tiru Chabba

A funeral for Chabba, a husband and father to two children, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville.

Chabba worked for the campus vendor Aramark Collegiate Hospitality and was on FSU's campus as an employee of the company, family attorneys said.

Media cannot attend the services, but they will be allowed to capture video of the arrivals and departures from across the street, family attorneys stated.

"Tiru Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now," attorney Bakari Sellers said in a statement provided to NBC Miami on 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."

“In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, we come together to mourn the loss of a cherished member of our community. His absence leaves a profound void, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of all who knew him,” according to the fundraiser. “In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask for your support in honoring his legacy by contributing to a fund for his children’s future. Your donation will help carry forward his dreams and provide a foundation of hope and stability for those he loved most.”

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What Happened?

According to Tallahassee Police, Ikner was on FSU's campus for about an hour before the shooting.

The time between when Ikner allegedly fired the first shot and when officers shot the suspect spanned about five minutes, police said.

“What we saw on April 17 was an extraordinary example of teamwork and professionalism in the face of a horrific event,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said in a news release. “From the moment the call came in, agencies across our region came together seamlessly, sharing information and deploying resources with public safety the top priority. This kind of response doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of training, partnerships and a shared commitment to protecting our community.”

Police released the following timeline:

• At about 11 a.m.: 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 a.m. and 11:57 a.m.: The first shot is fired. Ikner walks in and out of buildings and green spaces, firing a handgun.
• By 11:58 a.m.: Multiple 911 calls report a male actively shooting on campus, simultaneous to a police response by nearby officers.
• Noon: The suspect is shot by responding officers and taken into custody.

A motive in the shooting has not been revealed, and police have said Ikner acted alone.

"From an emotional standpoint, from a standpoint as a father of several children, this is the thing we fear most," Revell said at a past news conference. "This is that random act of violence that seems to have no meaning or rhyme or reason to it. We all fear that, and so, as a father, my heart goes out to the families that are forever impacted by this type of act."

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the FSU tragedy is the sixth mass shooting in Florida so far this year.

Rallying Community Support

Nearly a week after the deadly FSU shooting, the campus reopened Monday, though its Student Union remained closed until further notice.

University officials on Wednesday stated the FSU Seminoles baseball game held Tuesday night was unlike the others. First responders, Tallahassee Memorial medical personnel, students, faculty and staff were honored during a pregame ceremony, as well as during the game.

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity gave free barbecue to first responders and students ahead of the matchup with Stetson University at Dick Howser Stadium, WCTV reported. The FSU fraternity also took donations to benefit the shooting victims.

“It’s been something that’s been very hard on FSU and the Tallahassee community over the past week,” freshman Charlie Lamm told WCTV. “We really wanted to do something where we can, mainly, bring the community together, and also help out the victims and the victims’ families.”

A Community at the Commons event is available to students from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Therapy dogs, activities, food and games will be offered, university officials stated.

Students are invited to the 'Community at the Commons' at the Askew Student Life Center courtyard for food, iced treats, therapy dogs, activities and games.

FSU is also selling a "We Are FSU Strong" T-shirt in an effort to raise money for people and their families impacted by the shooting.

Tallahassee Police has received a glimpse of support from an FSU senior thanking them for their response to the shooting. The senior brought them cookies with a note showing appreciation for risking their lives.

"As students at Florida State, we are so thankful for your bravery and courage. Your actions did not go unnoticed. We hope you enjoy these cookies as a small token for our eternal gratitude," the note read, per police.