A lawyer representing the victims of a tragic incident at Florida State University last year claims that the shooter may have used ChatGPT to plan the attack. This lawyer, representing the family of Robert Morales, who was killed during the shooting, stated that the AI tool “might have advised” the gunman, Phoenix Ichner, on executing his violent act.
The law firm, Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney and Hobbs, expressed that they believe the shooter was in constant contact with ChatGPT before the incident, and they intend to file a lawsuit against OpenAI, the creator of the chatbot. They believe this technology may hold some responsibility for the loss of life, specifically that of Mr. Morales.
According to court documents, the case includes over 270 examples of ChatGPT conversations, although the specific content of these messages has not been shared publicly.
In response, OpenAI stated they had identified an account linked to the suspect shortly after the shooting and cooperated with law enforcement. A company spokesperson mentioned their commitment to improving their AI technology to ensure safe interactions.
At the time of the shooting, Ichner was a student at a public university and was reportedly using a handgun registered to his stepmother, who is a deputy sheriff. He also possessed a shotgun, but it appears he did not use it during the attack.
An attorney for Morales wrote to the sheriff’s office in September, asserting that they may share liability since Ichner was allowed to participate in a youth advisory committee, where he learned about firearms and exhibited concerning behavior. The letter stated, “Mr. Ichner is not mentally stable and should not have been near a gun.” They argue this lack of oversight contributed to Morales’ death.
On April 17, 2025, Ichner began firing shots in front of the student union at FSU. The shooting resulted in the deaths of Morales, 57, and another victim, Til Chava, 45, while six other students were wounded. Law enforcement quickly responded, fatally shooting Ichner, who sustained serious injuries as a result.
The reasons behind Ichner’s actions remain unclear, and investigators found no apparent links between him and the victims.
He now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.
