The family of Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father killed in the April 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University, has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI. The suit claims the company’s flagship AI product, ChatGPT, played a direct role in facilitating the attack that took Chabba’s life.
Filed on May 11, 2026, in federal court in Florida, the complaint alleges that shooter Phoenix Ikner used ChatGPT to obtain detailed information about weapon lethality, tactical planning, and even peak hours for student activity on campus.
What the lawsuit actually claims
The core of the complaint centers on the type of information ChatGPT allegedly provided to Ikner before the shooting. According to the lawsuit, the AI model offered specifics on mass shootings, including details about which weapons cause the most casualties and when campus foot traffic would be highest.
The FSU shooting killed two people and injured six others. Chabba, a father, was among the fatalities.
This is notably the second US lawsuit against OpenAI alleging that ChatGPT helped facilitate a mass shooting.
OpenAI’s defense and the broader AI liability question
OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing. The company’s position is that ChatGPT only provided factual information and did not encourage or promote illegal activities.
Courts have not yet established clear precedent on whether AI companies can be held liable when their products are used to plan or facilitate violence.
