Tallahassee, Fla. — In the aftermath of a chilling shooting at Florida State University (FSU) that left two dead, the community is grappling with shock and mourning. According to officials and witness accounts, among the deceased were Robert Morales, a cherished FSU employee and former assistant football coach at Leon High, and Tiru Chabba, a South Carolina native who was on campus working as a vendor.
The tragic event unfolded on Thursday, when gunshots echoed through the campus, prompting swift responses from law enforcement and emergency services. Six individuals were critically injured and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH), where doctors praised their clear-mindedness despite the shock and trauma.
One of the survivors, Madison Askin, recounted her harrowing experience during the attack. She survived by pretending to be dead after being shot, a desperate act that she credits to advice she remembered from her parents about handling such crises. “At one point, I thought the shooter had moved on, and I tried to reach for my phone to say goodbye to my family. But then I heard him reload right next to me,” Askin said from her hospital bed at TMH, where she remains in critical condition with a bullet lodged in her spine.
As the FSU community tries to process the violence, a growing memorial filled with flowers and candles has become a testament to the lives lost and affected. Morales, remembered fondly as a trusted coach and respected colleague, and Chabba, whose legal representation at Strom Law Firm highlighted his role on campus that day, are both mourned deeply.
Students and faculty expressed their grief but also their determination to remember the victims for who they were, rather than the tragic circumstances of their deaths. “They will not be remembered just for this tragedy, but for their individual lives and contributions,” said Jamiyah Benjamin, an FSU student.
The incident has left the university’s student body in a state of profound sadness and uncertainty. Questions directed toward the motives of the gunman permeate conversations among students. Scarlett Shepard, another student, voiced a common sentiment: “How could you? And why?”
As the investigation continues, the community clings to hope and resilience. Julianna Gregory, a student at FSU, spoke about the path forward: “It’s important to mourn the person you were before this tragedy, but we must also find the strength to heal and reclaim the lives we aimed to lead.”
In a poignant sign of solidarity and collective mourning, the candles at the memorial site continue to burn, each flicker a silent tribute to those affected. The suspect, who was neutralized by police at the scene and is among those hospitalized, remains under heavy surveillance, with authorities providing few details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
This tragedy at FSU has not only shaken the university but also drawn a tight-knit community closer, uniting them in grief and a shared desire for healing and understanding in the face of inexplicable violence.