A shocking event unfolded at Florida State University. A gunman opened fire, leaving two people dead and six injured. The campus was immediately locked down, and students rushed out of the student union in panic.

The shooter was identified as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student at the university. He is the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. Ikner used his stepmother’s former service weapon in the attack. When officers confronted him, he refused to comply with their commands and was shot and wounded.

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown. The incident occurred around lunchtime on a Thursday, just outside the student union. The identities of the two victims who lost their lives have been revealed. One was Robert Morales, a university employee. The other was Tiru Chabba, an executive with a food service vendor.

Robert Morales was a dining coordinator at the university. He had been working there since 2015. Morales had a background in criminology, having studied it in the early 1990s. He was also known for his innovative menus, particularly his Cuban dishes. Before his role at the university, Morales was an assistant football coach at Leon High School. He was remembered as someone who truly loved his job and lived it to the fullest.

Morales came from a family with a fascinating background. His father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile who became a CIA operative in South Florida. Known by the nickname “Monkey, ” the elder Morales was involved in various high-stakes activities, including bombings and assassination attempts. His life was as dramatic as a spy novel. Tragically, he was shot and killed in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43.

Tiru Chabba was working for Aramark, a food service vendor, when he was killed. He had been with the company for over two decades and held the position of regional vice president. Chabba was a married father of two and had earned an MBA from The Citadel in South Carolina. His family is now dealing with the unimaginable loss of a loving father and devoted husband.

The shooting has left the community in shock. It serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence and the need for better safety measures. The families of the victims are left to cope with their loss, while the university community comes together to support one another. The incident highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the need for stricter gun control laws. It is a stark reminder that such tragedies can happen anywhere, at any time.

A Day of Tragedy at Florida State University

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