Phoenix Ikner (Credit: NBC6)
The family of a victim killed in the April 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming the company’s ChatGPT chatbot enabled the deadly attack.
Tiru Chabba (Credit: X)
NBC News reports that Vandana Joshi, widow of Tiru Chabba, one of two people killed in the shooting, has filed the lawsuit in Florida against OpenAI. Chabba died alongside Robert Morales, the university’s dining director. The complaint also names Phoenix Ikner, the accused shooter, as a defendant, citing what it describes as his extensive conversations with ChatGPT.
Breitbart News previously reported that Ikner was in “constant communication” with ChatGPT while planning the attack:
Court records reveal that more than 270 images of ChatGPT conversations are listed as exhibits in the case, though the specific content of these messages has not been publicly disclosed.
OpenAI responded to the allegations by confirming it “identified a ChatGPT account believed to be associated with the suspect” shortly after the shooting occurred. The company stated it “proactively shared this information with law enforcement and cooperated with authorities.”
The lawsuit contends that OpenAI failed to effectively detect a threat in ChatGPT’s exchanges with Ikner, stating the chatbot either defectively failed to connect the dots or was never properly designed to recognize the threat. According to the complaint, Ikner, who was a student at FSU at the time, shared images of firearms he had acquired with ChatGPT. The chatbot then allegedly explained how to use them, telling him the Glock had no safety, that it was meant to be fired quick to use under stress, and advising him to keep his finger off the trigger until he was ready to shoot. The suit claims Ikner began his attack at FSU by following these instructions.
The lawsuit further alleges that ChatGPT told Ikner it is much more likely for a shooting to gain national attention if children are involved, even noting that two to three victims can draw more attention. On the day of the shooting itself, Ikner allegedly asked about what the legal process, sentencing, and incarceration outlook would be. (Read more: Breitbart News, 5/11/2026) (Archive)