Family of one Florida State University shooting victim sues OpenAI over ChatGPT's role in tragedy

The family of one of the two victims in the shooting at Florida State University last year sued OpenAI on Monday over the company's chatbot, ChatGPT's, alleged role in the deadly tragedy. 

Two people were killed in the mass shooting in April 2025, and six others were injured, after 20-year-old FSU student, Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy, allegedly opened fire with his mother's service weapon. 

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old who was on campus while working for the food service vendor Aramark. The other victim has been identified as 57-year-old Robert Morales, who worked on the campus.

The court filing argues that the suspected gunman carried out the mass shooting with “input and information” provided by ChatGPT in the time leading up to the attack, according to The Hill, and argues OpenAI “failed to warn the public” or misrepresented the risks and dangers of the chatbot. 

The filing claimed the suspect spent months talking about "imminent harm" and the chatbot even allegedly taught Ikner how to use the gun he allegedly eventually used in the shooting. He also discussed other mass shootings with ChatGPT, his interest in Adolf Hitler, and expressed his loneliness and depression.

An OpenAI spokesperson maintained that the chatbot was not at fault for the tragedy and even helped identify the suspect's account. 

“In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity,” the spokesperson said. “We work continuously to strengthen our safeguards to detect harmful intent, limit misuse, and respond appropriately when safety risks arise.” 

The lawsuit comes after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened an investigation last month into the role ChatGPT may have played in the shooting. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.