One year after a shooting at Florida State University left two people dead and six others injured, the campus is pausing to remember — while investigators, lawmakers, and university leaders continue working to understand what happened and prevent it from happening again.
Friday, students and staff are expected to gather for a moment of silence at noon, marking one year since the shooting that shook the Tallahassee campus.
The university will pause for a moment of silence honoring Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba, who were killed during the attack. Both were employees at FSU.
Student leaders are also creating a space along Legacy Walk where people can leave flowers, write messages and reflect throughout the day.
But beyond remembrance, the past year has brought a series of changes — and new questions.
Safety changes
University officials say they have strengthened safety measures in the months since the shooting, focusing on response and preparedness.
Those changes include increased police presence, expanded emergency alert systems and additional training for students and staff on how to respond in an active threat situation.
At the state level, lawmakers have also pushed for new policies aimed at preventing similar incidents, including proposals to expand Florida’s Guardian Program to colleges and universities.
Where the case stands
The accused gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner, was taken into custody the day of the shooting after being shot by police.
Prosecutors have since moved forward with charges and say they plan to seek the death penalty.
The case has faced delays, with the trial now scheduled for October 2026.
In the months leading up to that trial, new evidence and records have continued to surface, offering a clearer look at the investigation and the response that day.
New details from records
According to records from the State Attorney’s Office, the accused gunman exchanged more than 13,000 messages with ChatGPT over more than a year.
Those conversations included topics ranging from personal struggles and relationships to questions about weapons, school shootings and how similar attacks are covered in the media.
In one exchange, just hours before the shooting, records show he asked how the country might react if a shooting happened at Florida State University.
Records also show he asked about the busiest times on campus and questions related to firearms — details that are now part of an ongoing review into what led up to the attack.
Court records indicate authorities are still examining whether the attack was planned in advance, and what role, if any, those online interactions may have played.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company identified an account believed to be connected to the suspect and shared that information with law enforcement after the shooting.
Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched an investigation into OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. He says he’s concerned about the potential harm its artificial intelligence products might pose to minors.