FSU shooting: Classes resume as victims released from hospital

Three of the six people injured in last week’s mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) have been released from the hospital, with two more expected to be discharged by the end of Monday. A sixth patient was also said to be in good condition, according to officials at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

The shooting, which left two men dead and six others wounded, unfolded near the student union shortly before noon last Thursday. Authorities have identified the alleged gunman as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. Ikner was also hospitalized after being shot by responding law enforcement and is expected to face charges once released.

University officials confirmed the two victims killed were 45-year-old Tiru Chabba, a campus vendor employee from Greenville, South Carolina, and 57-year-old Roberto Morales, a dining services coordinator originally from Miami-Dade. Both men were working on campus at the time of the attack.

The family of Tiru Chabba has retained civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers and legal counsel Jim Bannister as they pursue justice and accountability. In a statement, Sellers said the family is committed to uncovering how the tragedy occurred and what could have been done to prevent it.

Questions have surfaced over how Ikner—despite his relationship to law enforcement—was able to carry out the attack. Investigations into his background and access to firearms are ongoing.

Despite the somber mood, FSU resumed classes on Monday, just four days after the shooting. Flowers lined the walkways on the Tallahassee campus, where students returned to classrooms with visible changes in policy. University President Richard McCullough initially announced classes would resume in full, but later revised the decision following backlash. In a new statement, McCullough said students would be allowed to attend classes remotely, with attendance policies waived for the week.

“Students: If you decide not to attend classes this week, we understand,” McCullough said. “The university has waived all mandatory attendance policies that affect your grade.”

Faculty were instructed to provide specific class updates and flexibility in coursework as the university community prepares for final exams next week.