Lawsuit Planned Against ChatGPT Over Florida State Shooting

Lawsuit Planned Against ChatGPT Over Florida State Shooting

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Attorneys representing the widow of a man killed in a 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University say they plan to file a lawsuit against ChatGPT, alleging the artificial intelligence chatbot may have played a role in the attack.

The announcement comes from attorney Ryan Hobbs, who represents Betty Morales, the widow of Robert Morales. Hobbs said the lawsuit will be filed soon and will seek to hold the chatbot and its ownership structure accountable.

“We have been advised that the shooter was in constant communication with ChatGPT leading up to the shooting,” Hobbs said. “We also have reason to believe that ChatGPT may have advised the shooter how to commit these heinous crimes.”

OpenAI owns ChatGPT, and Microsoft is its largest investor.

Shooting Left Two Dead, Several Injured

The case stems from an April 17, 2025, shooting at Florida State University that left two people dead and six others injured. Authorities say the suspect, Phoenix Ikner, was a student at the university at the time.

According to reports, Ikner allegedly shot Robert Morales in the back inside the Student Union food court. Morales, 57, worked as a dining coordinator at the university and had been involved in local restaurant businesses.

Another victim, Tiru Chabba, 45, worked for a university vendor and was also killed in the attack.

Ikner was shot by university police shortly after the incident and taken into custody. He faces two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 19, though it could be delayed. Prosecutors may seek the death penalty.

Claims Extend Beyond AI Company

Hobbs also sent a legal notice to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, raising concerns about its relationship with Ikner. The notice alleges the agency’s actions contributed to the events leading up to the shooting.

Ikner’s stepmother is a longtime deputy with the sheriff’s office. According to the notice, Ikner had access to firearms through the household and participated in a youth advisory program where he was taught how to use weapons.

“The Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s handling of Mr. Ikner ... was at least part of the cause of the murder of (Morales),” the legal notice states.

The notice further claims the agency should have recognized signs that Ikner was “not mentally stable and should not be around guns.”

Officials said the weapon used in the shooting included a firearm tied to the household. A grand jury found no evidence that another person knowingly helped him obtain it.

Prior Settlements Reached

Betty Morales has already reached two out-of-court settlements. One agreement with Florida State University included a $100,000 payment and covered tuition for four semesters for the couple’s daughter. Another settlement provided $305,000 from the homeowners insurance company of Ikner’s family.

Hobbs said no decision has been made on whether to pursue a lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.

The planned lawsuit against ChatGPT could become one of the first of its kind in the United States, linking artificial intelligence to a mass shooting.

Similar claims have surfaced elsewhere. In Canada, a lawsuit alleges an AI chatbot was used in planning a mass casualty event. Another case in California claims a chatbot encouraged a teenager to take his own life.