Latest news with #Chabba
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FSU shooting: New details, student marches, funeral planned. What to know Wednesday
Nearly a week after a gunman opened fire on the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University, killing two people and injuring six more, about 200 FSU students and teachers marched from Westcott Fountain to the Florida Capitol to demand lawmakers enact common sense gun laws and kill a bill that would lower the age to buy a long gun to 18. House Bill 759, which would overturn the part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act that restricts the sale of long guns to people 21 years of age and older, passed the House in March and was sent to the Senate in early April, where it has sat for weeks. A similar Senate bill was withdrawn. "Hey hey, ho ho, gun violence has got to go," the crowd chanted. A bill to allow weapons or firearms at school-sponsored events or on school property, filed this year by former Sen. Randy Fine, was voted down on March 25 by the Criminal Justice Committee. 4-3. Posts to social media promote another march on Thursday, April 24, from the Landis Fountain to demand the FSU administration take action against white supremacists on campus. Here's what we know about the shooting as of Wednesday, April 23. The family of Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two who was one of the two people killed during the mass shooting, has announced that a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. ET Friday, April 25th in Greenville, South Carolina at the Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Chabba was on the FSU campus Thursday as an employee of campus vendor Aramark Collegiate Hospitality when he was shot and killed, according to the family counsel The Strom Law Firm, which initially identified Chabba via email. The firm was retained by the family to "ensure that all those who bear responsibility for this senseless act of violence are held to account." He is survived by his wife and two children. FSU graduate and state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, called for a moment of silence for his alma mater as the Florida Senate began an April 23 floor session. Simon was a defensive lineman for the Florida State Seminoles and played on the 1999 National Championship team before a career in the NFL, largely with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2010. Simon, first elected to the Senate in 2022, gave an "emotional tribute," a reporter covering the session reported on social media, adding that he "tearfully ... ask(ed) for a moment of silence," during which he was hugged and comforted by fellow lawmakers. On Tuesday, four FSU students — including two who had been huddled in a barricaded classroom during the Thursday shooting — walked to the Capitol Rotunda with House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa to accuse Florida lawmakers of complicity in mass shootings around the state with their support of policies normalizing gun violence. 'All we got was Gov. DeSantis releasing a single Twitter video. Not even a written statement. This disconnect between what happened and the governing majority's blanket of silence is just disgusting,' said Simon Monteleone, a 19-year-old student and campus activist from Cape Coral. The FSU shooting was the sixth mass shooting in Florida this year, and the fourth Florida school shooting since 2012, according to the Gun Violence Archive. FSU mass shooting fallout: After shooting, Florida State students demand gun reform at Florida Capitol Five victims from the mass shooting have been released, officials at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said Tuesday. A remaining patient "related to the April 17 shooting at Florida State University" remains in good condition, TMH said. The hospital will not name patients, but the only remaining person involved in the shooting is the suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner. A sixth victim was injured while fleeing but was not shot and did not go to the hospital, FSU leaders said. None of the victims have been identified, but one, Madison Askins, 23, gave an interview over the weekend and described how she pretended to be dead to avoid getting shot again. Before the first baseball game after the shooting, FSU faculty, staff and students were invited onto Mike Martin Field of Dick Howser Stadium for a moment of silence and a performance by the FSU Marching Chiefs. Dr. Matthew Ramseyer, a Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare trauma response surgeon, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the game against Stetson. First responders and healthcare workers were honored during the fourth inning. FSU won, 11-6. After the shooting: How FSU baseball's Link Jarrett has turned Howser into a place to 'heal' after shooting A Florida State University Police Department officer fired the shot that took down mass shooting suspect Phoenix Ikner, according to FSU leaders in a virtual trustees meeting Tuesday afternoon. FSUPD responded instantly when a student called in an active shooter at 11:58 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower said. 'All on-duty officers and command staff responded at that time, at approximately 12 o'clock, so noon,' Trumbower said. 'In less than two minutes, seven of our officers converged on the suspect in the greenway between the student union and Moore Auditorium.' Officers drew the suspect's attention and "also at noon, FSU PD neutralized the suspect,' the chief said. Ikner, a 20-year-old political science student and stepson of a Leon County deputy, was significantly injured and is expected to be in the hospital for some time before he'll be transferred to the county jail. Law enforcement kicked in 300 doors across the campus to make sure there were no additional shooters, Trumbower said. Along with countless memorials of flowers, balloons and stuffed animals along the sidewalks and steps of the campus, students have been adding handwritten messages of support, gratitude, faith and calls for gun reform. Memorials of flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and heartfelt messages lined the sidewalks and steps of the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee Monday as classes resumed four days after a gunman went on a shooting rampage that killed two and left six injured in less than five minutes. The upcoming week of classes is the last before finals. In a statement Saturday night after backlash erupted over plans to open the campus Monday, McCullough said that classes would resume as scheduled, remote options would be available for many courses and attendance policies would be waived for students who weren't ready to come back. Many professors have given students the option to freeze their grades and made finals optional. They also made it so that coursework and tests after the shooting can only help students' grades. Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a Leon County sheriff's deputy, is the suspected shooter in an attack at Florida State University on Thursday, April 17, that killed two and injured six. Police say Ikner waited for an hour in an FSU parking garage and then, using his mother's gun, opened fire at the FSU Student Union. Trumbower said the first call came in at 11:58 a.m. and by noon, FSU PD converged on the suspect. The university sent out an alert to students and faculty at 12:01 p.m. as law enforcement from multiple agencies quickly descended on the campus. Ikner refused to comply and was shot by an FSU PD officer, Trumbower said. He is believed to have acted alone, according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Students were released from a shelter-in-place request after law enforcement cleared the campus. The shooting claimed the lives of Robert Morales, an FSU employee and high school football coach, and Tiru Chabba, 45, a married father of two from South Carolina, who was at FSU on a work-related visit. 'I just need to play dead': Florida State University student on surviving campus shooting A vigil held on campus Friday afternoon drew thousands to honor the victims. On Easter Sunday, students packed the pews for Easter Mass. Tallahassee police provided a timeline of the April 17 shooting at Florida State University. 11 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner arrives at an FSU parking garage. 11: 51 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner leaves the parking lot. 11:56 or 11:57 a.m.: Phoenix Ikner fires the first shot, then walks in and out of buildings and green spaces, firing a handgun. 11:58 a.m.: 911 calls report a male actively shooting on FSU campus. Nearby police officers respond. By 12 p.m.: Phoenix Ikner is shot by responding officers and taken into custody. Along with Chabba, Robert Morales, the university's dining coordinator, was the other person shot and killed during the mass shooting that shook the university and community. Aside from his dining service work, Robert was a long-time special teams coach for Leon High School's football program and a partner in local favorite Gordos Cuban Cuisine. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the shooter was 20-year-old FSU student Ikner, the stepson of Leon County Deputy Jessica Ikner. Born Christian Gunnar Eriksen, Ikner changed his name when he was 15 following a troubled childhood marked by decades-long custody battles between his parents. Ikner's biological mother spent about five months in jail after taking him against his will to Norway. Phoenix Ikner said that with his new name, he had hopes of rising from the 'ashes' of his childhood. Ikner attended Lincoln High School and was a long-standing member of the 2021-22 Leon County Sheriff's Office Youth Advisory Council as a high school junior. Sheriff Walt McNeil said Phoenix was 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.' Jessica Ikner, a middle school deputy, practiced shooting with her stepson, though "not in an official capacity," according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Ikner is currently on personal leave and is being reassigned, an LCSO spokesperson said. "Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons found at the scene. We are continuing our investigation as to how that weapon was used and what other weapons perhaps he may have had access to," McNeil said during a press conference. As of Wednesday morning, April 23, Ikner is still hospitalized after being shot by law enforcement. Ikner faces a long list of charges, including first-degree murder, once he is released and transferred to the county jail. Ikner's motive is still unknown. "The suspect invoked his rights not to speak to us," Revell said at Thursday's press conference. According to USA TODAY, students who knew Ikner were horrified but "weren't shocked given things he had said publicly." In the aftermath of the shooting on Thursday, people who knew Ikner said he had a history of espousing radical conspiracy theories and hateful ideas. The president of a student politics club said Ikner 'espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric' that they booted him from the group. By the time Ikner had enrolled in Tallahassee State College last year in 2024, other students said he was expressing extremist conspiracy theories and hateful ideas and was once kicked out of a "political round table" club for what one student claimed was frequent white supremacist and far-right rhetoric. The suspected FSU gunman held a fascination with Hitler, Nazis and other hate groups, according to screenshots of his online activity captured by the Anti-Defamation League. Ikner used a drawing of Hitler as a profile photo for an online gaming account. For the name of another account, the 20-year-old used 'Schutzstaffel,' the name of the ruthless 'SS' paramilitary group that started out as Hitler's personal bodyguard, grew into death squads and ran the concentration camps where millions of Jews were murdered. More: New records show suspected FSU shooter had troubling fascination with hate groups The Miami Herald reported that Ikner was cracking jokes about getting a good night's rest after taking a hit to the head in an online chat for students in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at FSU and Tallahassee State College. After another student suggested he get hit again to cancel it out, Ikner replied, "Twice the head trauma, twice the power. I'm evolving." The FSU shooting occurred nearly 26 years to the day of one of the deadliest, most infamous school shootings: the attack and attempted bombing at Columbine High School in Colorado. On April 20, 1999, two 12th-grade students murdered twelve students and one teacher, the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in history to that point. The Columbine High School massacre has been the inspiration for dozens of copycat shooters, several of whom specifically planned for the anniversary. Florida State University is located in the state's capital, Tallahassee. It is found in the middle of the Panhandle between Jacksonville and Pensacola. The main campus of Florida State University is officially located at 600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306. According to LCSO, Ikner acted alone during the shooting, despite online rumors of multiple shooters. A video has gone viral across social media showing someone walking past a wounded, bleeding woman lying face down on the grass. Rather than stopping to help or even running away from an active shooter, as what sounds like two shots are fired in the background, the person walks by while sipping from a Starbucks cup. While officials believe the video is authentic, the Tallahassee Democrat is not running the video due to its graphic content and because it has not been verified as real or related to the FSU shooting. See reactions: Viral video after FSU shooting seems to show person sipping coffee while passing wounded victim The FBI has set up a tip line for anyone with information about the shooting that happened at FSU. Anyone with video or audio media related to the incident can upload it here. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist in Askins' recovery. Donate here: Contributing: William Hatfield, Arianna Otero, Jim Rosica, Jeff Burlew, Ana Goñi-Lessan, Alaijah Brown, Elena Barrera, Brittany Misencik, Gregg Pachkowski, Mollye Barrows of USA TODAY Network – Florida and Michael Loria of USA TODAY. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State University mass shooting updates: Students demand action
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's a big loss': Coastal Carolina, Coker communities mourn FSU shooting victim
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – The Coastal Carolina University and Coker University communities are mourning the loss of Tiru Chabba, one of the two people killed in the Florida State University shooting last Thursday. Chabba was a CCU and Citadel alum. He worked with both CCU and Coker dining services during his career. Shawn Phillips, Chabba's former co-worker at Coker, says he had a beautiful smile that lit up every room. 'If you were having a bad day, he would always come up to you and give you that smile and a little joke, or something that makes you feel better, and your day would go by fast,' Phillips said. She says she worked with Chabba for about four years. They were both supervisors for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, the company that once ran Coker's dining services. Phillips says she saw articles about the Florida State University shooting and recognized Chabba's smile from the photos. 'I actually pulled up the article, and I went like, 'This is Tiru. Oh my goodness,'' she said. 'The tears just started flowing from my eyes.' Most recently, Chabba was the Regional Vice President at Aramark, which currently runs Coastal Carolina University's dining services. He was on the FSU campus as part of his job when he was killed. Sandy Baldridge-Adrian, associate vice president for Auxiliary Enterprises and Chabba's co-worker at CCU, says she met Chabba when both were students at the university. They ended up working together for about 20 years. 'He always had a, 'We'll figure out a way to do it,' instead of a 'No, that's not something we could do,' attitude,' Baldridge-Adrian said. 'He was always thinking about our students, the Aramark staff, and the university staff, and how we can make this place better.' Baldridge-Adrian says her two decades working with Chabba felt like both a lifetime and not long enough. 'I feel upset, frustrated, mad, heartbroken,' she said. 'It's a big loss, and it's going to take a while.' Baldridge-Adrian was emotional when she talked about how Chabba was not only a great friend, but also a great husband and father to his wife and two kids. 'He'll be missed,' she said. 'We're here for his family, both his work family and his actual family. I can't imagine what they're going through right now.' You can donate to Chabba's family's GoFundMe here. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Greenville man among 2 food service employees killed in FSU shooting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA & WSPA) — A Greenville man was one of two food service employees identified as the people killed when a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus Thursday. Police search for motive in deadly shooting at FSU The Aramark employee was identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two. He was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, according to his family's attorney. 'We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence,' a spokesperson for the food service provider said in a statement. 'We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community.' Chabba's family attorney, Bakari Sellers, said the family is going through the 'unimaginable' right now. '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,' Bakari Sellers said. 'We ask you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as we fight to ensure they see justice that honors the memories of Mr. Chabba and all the victims of Thursday's shooting.' The other campus dining employee was identified by family as Robert Morales, who was originally from Miami-Dade County. He was also a FSU alum. 'You deserved better, Robert. Thank you for being in my life,' a man claiming to be Morales' older brother wrote in a post on X. The Morales brothers' father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname 'Monkey.' Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his father's work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, 'Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad,' which is expected to be published later this year. 'Dubbed 'The Monkey' for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen,' reads promotional material from publisher Simon & Schuster. The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43. A spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said in a statement that two of the six injured patients are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Friday. Three shooting victims' conditions are improving, while another remained 'in fair condition.' The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Beloved family men identified as victims killed in FSU mass shooting: 'Living a nightmare'
The two victims killed Thursday in a mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) have been identified as Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba, beloved family men and food service employees. Morales and Chabba were among eight people wounded during the Tallahassee shooting just before noon. Hospital officials confirmed the six other victims are expected to make a full recovery. Phoenix Ikner, 20, an FSU student and stepson of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy, has been identified by authorities as the suspect. He was shot by Tallahassee police officers after refusing to comply with commands. Fsu Shooter Identified, Used Sheriff Deputy Mom's Weapon In Killing: Police Leon High School's athletics department released a statement Friday confirming Morales' death, noting he was a former assistant football coach. "Coach Morales was a beloved member of our athletic community and served as an assistant coach for Leon Football with dedication, integrity, and a true passion for mentoring young athletes," the school wrote in the statement. "His commitment to the game and to shaping the lives of his players extended far beyond the field." Read On The Fox News App The school added he was a "trusted coach, a respected colleague, and a cherished friend to many." A GoFundMe has been created for Morales' family, raising more than $31,000 as of Friday afternoon. It was created by friends of his wife, Betty Morales, according to the site. "Robert leaves behind a wife and daughter," fundraiser organizers wrote. "We invite you to help us provide financial assistance to the Morales family as they navigate the road ahead." Fsu Student: Everyone Started Running 'Suddenly' Ricardo Morales Jr. shared family photos on X, remembering his younger brother. "He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter," Ricardo Morales wrote in the post. "I'm glad you were in my Life. Him with our Dad on the left and with our other Brother Sister, Gma and cousin." The Strom Law Firm, which is representing Chabba's family, confirmed his death in a news release provided to Fox News Digital Friday. The 45-year-old father of two, from Greenville, South Carolina, was on the FSU campus working as an employee for a campus vendor, according to the release. Fsu Shooting Suspect's Childhood Included Alleged Family Kidnapping Abroad, Custody Fight, Documents Say He is survived by his wife and two children. "Tiru Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now," the firm wrote in the statement. "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. We ask you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as we fight to ensure they see justice that honors the memories of Mr. Chabba and all the victims of Thursday's shooting." Florida State University Shooting Suspect: Who Is Phoenix Ikner? Bakari Sellers, a national civil rights attorney with Strom Law, announced on X he and colleague Jim Bannister will represent the family in future legal proceedings. "He was a husband and father whose life was tragically taken on the campus of Florida State University this week," Sellers wrote on X. "We are prayerful for a complete and thorough investigation and pray for all families affected." Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, where Chabba worked as a regional vice president, confirmed the death of one of its employees to Fox News Digital. "We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence," according to a statement from Aramark. "We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community." FSU canceled classes through Friday and athletic events through the weekend. The university held a vigil for the victims early Friday evening at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue. Fox News' Greg Norman, Audrey Conklin, Rachel Wolf, Preston Mizell, David Spunt, Andrea Margolis, Ashley Papa, Pilar Arias and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Beloved family men identified as victims killed in FSU mass shooting: 'Living a nightmare'
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Fox News
Beloved family men identified as victims killed in FSU mass shooting: 'Living a nightmare'
The two victims killed Thursday in a mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) have been identified as Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba, beloved family men and food service employees. Morales and Chabba were among eight people wounded during the Tallahassee shooting just before noon. Hospital officials confirmed the six other victims are expected to make a full recovery. Phoenix Ikner, 20, an FSU student and stepson of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy, has been identified by authorities as the suspect. He was shot by Tallahassee police officers after refusing to comply with commands. Leon High School's athletics department released a statement Friday confirming Morales' death, noting he was a former assistant football coach. "Coach Morales was a beloved member of our athletic community and served as an assistant coach for Leon Football with dedication, integrity, and a true passion for mentoring young athletes," the school wrote in the statement. "His commitment to the game and to shaping the lives of his players extended far beyond the field." The school added he was a "trusted coach, a respected colleague, and a cherished friend to many." A GoFundMe has been created for Morales' family, raising more than $31,000 as of Friday afternoon. It was created by friends of his wife, Betty Morales, according to the site. "Robert leaves behind a wife and daughter," fundraiser organizers wrote. "We invite you to help us provide financial assistance to the Morales family as they navigate the road ahead." Ricardo Morales Jr. shared family photos on X, remembering his younger brother. "He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter," Ricardo Morales wrote in the post. "I'm glad you were in my Life. Him with our Dad on the left and with our other Brother Sister, Gma and cousin." The Strom Law Firm, which is representing Chabba's family, confirmed his death in a news release provided to Fox News Digital Friday. The 45-year-old father of two, from Greenville, South Carolina, was on the FSU campus working as an employee for a campus vendor, according to the release. He is survived by his wife and two children. "Tiru Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now," the firm wrote in the statement. "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. We ask you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as we fight to ensure they see justice that honors the memories of Mr. Chabba and all the victims of Thursday's shooting." Bakari Sellers, a national civil rights attorney with Strom Law, announced on X he and colleague Jim Bannister will represent the family in future legal proceedings. "He was a husband and father whose life was tragically taken on the campus of Florida State University this week," Sellers wrote on X. "We are prayerful for a complete and thorough investigation and pray for all families affected." Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, where Chabba worked as a regional vice president, confirmed the death of one of its employees to Fox News Digital. "We are heartbroken to confirm that an Aramark employee was among those killed at FSU yesterday in that senseless act of violence," according to a statement from Aramark. "We are absolutely shaken by the news and our deepest sympathies are with the family and our entire Aramark community." FSU canceled classes through Friday and athletic events through the weekend. The university held a vigil for the victims early Friday evening at Langford Green in front of the Unconquered Statue.
