alleged
Florida State University shooting: victim's family and Florida's attorney general allege ChatGPT assisted the gunman
Two university dining-services workers, Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba, were killed and others wounded in a shooting on the FSU campus on April 17, 2025. Chabba's family has sued the accused gunman and OpenAI, alleging he held extensive ChatGPT conversations in which it gave operational guidance on firearms and on gaining media attention, without flagging or escalating them. Florida's Attorney General opened a criminal investigation into whether ChatGPT aided, abetted or advised the crime, and cites the shooting in the state's civil suit against OpenAI. OpenAI says ChatGPT gave factual responses available publicly and did not encourage or promote harmful activity.
- Status
- Alleged, not proven
- Deaths
- 2
- Date
- 17 April 2025
- Place
- Tallahassee, Florida, United States
- AI system
- ChatGPT
- Developer / operator
- OpenAI
- Named
- Robert Morales, Tiru Chabba
Why this case is “alleged”
No court, coroner or official investigation has yet found that ChatGPT caused or contributed to these deaths. The case is listed because it meets our standard for a credible allegation. It will move to the confirmed count only if an official body makes such a finding.
Legal status
Chabba family federal suit filed 11 May 2026 in Tallahassee, naming the accused gunman and OpenAI. Florida AG criminal investigation of OpenAI announced 21 April 2026 (ongoing; later expanded to the USF case). State of Florida civil suit against OpenAI and Sam Altman filed 1 June 2026 cites the shooting. The accused shooter's criminal case is pending. All pending; no findings.
Notes
Included because a lawsuit and a state attorney general allege that ChatGPT's own responses assisted the attack (see the methodology). OpenAI disputes this. The accused gunman is not named here.
Sources
- Family of FSU shooting victim files lawsuit naming gunman and OpenAI
- Florida opens criminal investigation into OpenAI over ChatGPT's alleged role in FSU shooting
- Florida sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of putting profit over safety