Related videos:
One of the fatalities from the shooting that occurred this Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) has been identified as Roberto Morales, a Cuban American originally from Miami-Dade and an employee of the campus, according to sources close to his family.
The information was revealed by Telemundo 51, which accessed details shared by acquaintances and confirmed that Morales had been working for the dining services at FSU since 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The television station also specified that Morales was known for being one of the founders of the Cuban restaurant Gordos Cuban Cuisine, which is very popular in the city of Tallahassee.
The death of Morales was publicly mourned by his brother, Ricardo Morales Jr., who posted a message on social media platform X accompanied by family photos.
“Today we lost my younger brother. He was one of the victims of the FSU. He loved his work at the FSU and his beautiful wife and daughter. I’m glad you were in my life,” he wrote.
According to the television source, Morales graduated from Hialeah Senior High School and studied at Florida State University, where he served as the campus dining hall director.
According to official reports, the shooting left two dead and at least six people injured, after a student opened fire with a gun registered in his mother's name, a deputy sheriff for Leon County.
The attacker, identified as Phoenix Ikner, 20 years old, was captured by the police and is currently hospitalized due to an injury, although his current health status is unknown.
The shooting created an emergency situation on the university campus, where approximately 40,000 people study, and they were ordered to take shelter and remain isolated for about three hours while the premises were secured.
In a statement, FSU President Richard McCullough expressed the sorrow of the entire academic community: “We join in mourning with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We stand with the injured and all those who are suffering.”
The tragedy has once again brought to the forefront the debate over armed violence on university campuses in the United States, as well as the ease with which many guns end up in the hands of young people, even when they are legally registered by relatives connected to law enforcement agencies.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, lamented on Thursday the shooting that occurred at FSU, describing the incident as “a disgrace” and “a terrible thing”.
Trump made his statements during a joint press conference in the Oval Office with Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, after being questioned by reporters about the incident.
Frequently asked questions about the shooting at Florida State University
Who were the victims of the shooting at Florida State University?
The fatalities were Roberto Morales, a Cuban-American from Miami-Dade, and another individual whose name has not been disclosed. Morales had been working at the university since 2015 and was one of the founders of a popular Cuban restaurant in Tallahassee.
Who is Phoenix Ikner, the alleged shooter in the FSU incident?
Phoenix Ikner is a 20-year-old student at Florida State University, the son of a county sheriff's deputy in Leon County. He participated in youth programs run by the sheriff's department and used a gun registered in his mother's name during the attack.
How did Florida State University react after the shooting?
The university immediately activated its emergency alert system and asked students and staff to take shelter. Classes and administrative activities have been suspended until April 18, and scheduled sports events for the weekend have also been canceled.
What security measures were taken during the shooting at FSU?
The authorities secured the campus and deployed a strong security operation with the cooperation of the FBI and local police forces. The threat was neutralized around 3:00 p.m., allowing students to return to their residences, although some areas remained active crime scenes.
Filed under: