FL -- FSU shooting, 2 dead 6 injured, shooter apprehended, Tallahassee campus. 17 April 2025.

[kaen]

So you don't think a person's mental capacity should be taken into account in charging or determining guilt? But at the same time, hold others responsible for other people's actions? I"m a

I work in special education at a high school. Some of my students are also adjudicated for various crimes including felonies. One thing I am sure of is that some of my students based on their diagnoses and their life trauma (foster care, systemic abuses) definitely are affected by these factors. That said, no one ever seems to say don't send them to jail or don't hold them accountable because of these factors. And, people often seem to want to hold their parents accountable. The Michigan (Crumbly) teen shooter clearly had mental health issues and was traumatized by his circumstances AND the prevailing opinions were send them all to jail.

I can say this about the young people I work with. I hate their behavior but can see their pain and inability to make better decisions for a whole host of reasons. I want better for them. But, it is not right to pick and choose who we give a break to. Violent crime is violent crime. If families fail to act to protect their child and the community, they have to be held accountable via the legal process, IMHO.

At the end of the day, school shootings and violence are far too common. There are many innocent people who have to pay for the families and the legal systems failures to act. <modsnip: Removed general gun control comment> Seeing this young man as guilty is part of the deal when he can access these items. He may have mental health issues but is still responsible in my mind. The local law enforcement and his family who watched him, gave him access, and taught him how to shoot if he is mentally ill, even if they had any inkling of his issues should be held responsible.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion. But, I can say I am tired of going to school every day and worrying if I am going to go home. My kids are also tired of going to school (one a teacher and one still a student) and wondering if there is going to be an out break of violence.

 

[NoeticSoul]

I have a feeling he wouldn't be eligible for the death penalty, for reason of insanity.

No way he is 'insane' imho

I'm getting the impression that his parents were never married; please correct me if I am wrong. I also wonder, since his two fatalities were Hispanic, if he targeted that ethnicity specifically.

ETA: On closer view, Tiru Chabba was most likely of Southwest Asian descent - Turkey, Iran/Iraq, or the southern former Russian republics.

You know, I'm not totally sure about the marriage. I'm going to go back and read. Regardless, I believe that he had his own personal 'agenda' for this horrific event. Not sure it had to do with family matters at all, even though his childhood seemed to really suck. moo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

He apparently has some diagnosed issues actually and then throw in his mother kidnapping him and taking him out of the country would lead to possible PTSD issues. I'd say we need to wait to see how that plays in to this.

Not unless he thought his life was in danger. PTSD also doesn't lead to mass murder 99.999999% of the time.

I feel like I need a permanent sig on every mass shooting thread to say: sometimes criminality is just plain criminality.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

From my perspective, there are people with many different diagnosis with many types of trauma that are guilty of crimes they committed (both adjudicated and in the court of public opinion). He is no different. There are a myriad of school shooters who had mental health issues, trauma and bad parenting that are sitting in jail. He should be no different. If he was incapable of making decisions and the family he lived with left guns available, I feel the same way that I did about the youth in Michigan and Georgia, shooter should be found guilty and his family should face any applicable chargers if he has a mental defect or serious mental health issue. Again, JMHO. If we can't get guns locked up then the shooters and their abettors are responsible if they did not due their due diligence to keep a gun out of his hands knowing that he had issues.

I don't like blanket statements, but for the most part, I agree. I'm sick and tired of hearing the mental health excuse that the family of most mass shooters try to give when they get caught. Very few of them committed the crime due to mental illness. Very few don't know the difference between right and wrong. There are very, very few cases of homicide that can be explained by mental illness, in my experience.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Millions of people have ADHD and developmental delays. Those diagnoses are not in and of themselves indicative of an inablility to make decisions or know right from wrong. He was in a university and attending classes. He joined clubs and appeared to be able to function on the campus making day to day decisions.

Exactly. There isn't always a scapegoat. Sometimes, the kid is just a criminal.

The media and politicians always try to look for some other cause and most of the time, it just isn't there. The SSRI blame game begins in 3...2...1.....

MOO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I feel for the the shooter's mother and the fact that he used her firearm. From all accounts, she has been an exemplary law enforcement officer. Tragically, however, her step-son, PI, had a history of mental health issues and endured a significant amount of trauma growing up.
This doesn't excuse what he did in any way, but as a society we need more emphasis on the mental health of our youth.

I think we need more emphasis on law and reform. I'm not seeing any reports of mental health issues that explain what happened here and I'm not sure I agree with significant amount of trauma explaining anything. MOO.

 

[kaen]

I don't like blanket statements, but for the most part, I agree. I'm sick and tired of hearing the mental health excuse that the family of most mass shooters try to give when they get caught. Very few of them committed the crime due to mental illness. Very few don't know the difference between right and wrong. There are very, very few cases of homicide that can be explained by mental illness, in my experience.

I have certainly worked with young people who were so ill that they could not or should not be held responsible. That said, getting these folks treatment and keeping the school and community safe is paramount. I have students and former students who are so damaged by street drugs that they don't know which way is up. It is terrifying. That level of illness goes beyond what we see in most school shooters or alleged murderers like Kohberger. I also see a difference but a young man functioning and telling people he is not ready for finals but is also able to navigate his day to day--drive the car, go to class, can figure out how to get access to locked guns, and have political arguments with peers (even if you don't agree with his position) is functioning and deciding to kill for whatever reason.

The whole medication debate is another ball of warm wax.... JMHO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I have certainly worked with young people who were so ill that they could not or should not be held responsible.

I don't know your experience, but again, very few of these mass shootings can be explained by mental illness, in my experience.

That said, getting these folks treatment and keeping the school and community safe is paramount. I have students and former students who are so damaged by street drugs that they don't know which way is up. It is terrifying. That level of illness goes beyond what we see in most school shooters or alleged murderers like Kohberger. I also see a difference but a young man functioning and telling people he is not ready for finals but is also able to navigate his day to day--drive the car, go to class, can figure out how to get access to locked guns, and have political arguments with peers (even if you don't agree with his position) is functioning and deciding to kill for whatever reason.

Exactly. Mental illness is used as an excuse in many of these cases and it does real damage to those who are legitimately mentally ill. This is why the stigma continues.

MOO.

 

[justtrish]

I read the articles posted and it definately seems there was always some tension and maybe they were not married since the son had her last name originally. I think it's pretty typical if married for the children to take the dads name, even if mom doesn't. I'll say IMO since I don't know for fact they were never married.

I also think if mom took him out of the country, THAT is huge and dad had every right to take her to court and get custody.

I also find mom's post on social media for his 20th birthday awful. SHE seems to be the one that is perpetuating some of this by posting like that. Why publicly state all that drama in a post about your child's birthday?

Also he is an adult now so his dad and step mom have no say weather he sees his mom or not so why is mom and grandma still putting that on them? He will be 21 in August and is at college.. so if he wanted contact with her, I feel he could initiate that and not have to go through is dad and step mom.

Maybe he didn't want contact with her. If she behaves the way she was doing on social media when maybe for good reason he didn't want to see her. If all she did was talk bad about his dad, it could be his choice and if he was traumatized by the whole taking out of the country thing, he might not have wanted to see her.

 

[appleatcha]

Not unless he thought his life was in danger. PTSD also doesn't lead to mass murder 99.999999% of the time.

I feel like I need a permanent sig on every mass shooting thread to say: sometimes criminality is just plain criminality.

I agree with most of this, but regarding "Not unless he thought his life was in danger," that isn't actually true.

The "Criterion A" for a PTSD diagnosis include:

The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

• Direct exposure
• Witnessing the trauma
• Learning that the trauma happened to a close relative or close friend
• Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics)

(Source: DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD)

It isn't necessary to believe your life is in danger to develop PTSD. That's a common misconception, but I think it's important for people to understand.

And, as you said, whether or not the shooter has PTSD (or even C-PTSD) stemming from childhood trauma, that absolutely does not excuse what he did.

Edited to add: It's also worth noting that a great many American children and young adults have developed PTSD due to being indirectly exposed to mass shootings such as this, even if they never believed their lives were in danger. There will certainly be people who live with PTSD related to this event, including people who never laid eyes on the shooter or heard gunfire.

 

[NoeticSoul]

I read the articles posted and it definately seems there was always some tension and maybe they were not married since the son had her last name originally. I think it's pretty typical if married for the children to take the dads name, even if mom doesn't. I'll say IMO since I don't know for fact they were never married.

I also think if mom took him out of the country, THAT is huge and dad had every right to take her to court and get custody.

I also find mom's post on social media for his 20th birthday awful. SHE seems to be the one that is perpetuating some of this by posting like that. Why publicly state all that drama in a post about your child's birthday?

Also he is an adult now so his dad and step mom have no say weather he sees his mom or not so why is mom and grandma still putting that on them? He will be 21 in August and is at college.. so if he wanted contact with her, I feel he could initiate that and not have to go through is dad and step mom.

Maybe he didn't want contact with her. If she behaves the way she was doing on social media when maybe for good reason he didn't want to see her. If all she did was talk bad about his dad, it could be his choice and if he was traumatized by the whole taking out of the country thing, he might not have wanted to see her.

SO many, many possibilities of the actual truth imo. It's reading so far as a giant (explosive) show from ALL directions. Sadly. All I can do is pray for an seek and justice for all involved

 

[LetsSolvIt]

ABC story is pretty terrifying:

Grad student shot at FSU recounts harrowing moment gunman reloaded as she played dead​

 

[Betty P]

No way he is 'insane' imho


You know, I'm not totally sure about the marriage. I'm going to go back and read. Regardless, I believe that he had his own personal 'agenda' for this horrific event. Not sure it had to do with family matters at all, even though his childhood seemed to really suck. moo

Bringing multiple weapons to the crime scene shows premeditation and planning. That disqualifies him to be considered insane.

 

[airportwoman]

I read the articles posted and it definately seems there was always some tension and maybe they were not married since the son had her last name originally. I think it's pretty typical if married for the children to take the dads name, even if mom doesn't. I'll say IMO since I don't know for fact they were never married.

I also think if mom took him out of the country, THAT is huge and dad had every right to take her to court and get custody.

I also find mom's post on social media for his 20th birthday awful. SHE seems to be the one that is perpetuating some of this by posting like that. Why publicly state all that drama in a post about your child's birthday?

Also he is an adult now so his dad and step mom have no say weather he sees his mom or not so why is mom and grandma still putting that on them? He will be 21 in August and is at college.. so if he wanted contact with her, I feel he could initiate that and not have to go through is dad and step mom.

Maybe he didn't want contact with her. If she behaves the way she was doing on social media when maybe for good reason he didn't want to see her. If all she did was talk bad about his dad, it could be his choice and if he was traumatized by the whole taking out of the country thing, he might not have wanted to see her.

One of the stories I saw was that when she took him back to Norway, he never brushed his teeth the whole time he was there, from the time he left the U.S. until he was located, more than 3 months later. I also wonder if he was going to school, or even allowed to leave the house.

I'm thankful that he was taken into custody alive, so he can actually TELL us in real time, and not just through his electronics, what was going on with him.

 

[Betty P]

One of the stories I saw was that when she took him back to Norway, he never brushed his teeth the whole time he was there, from the time he left the U.S. until he was located, more than 3 months later. I also wonder if he was going to school, or even allowed to leave the house.

I'm thankful that he was taken into custody alive, so he can actually TELL us in real time, and not just through his electronics, what was going on with him.

According to his grandmother in theDM article linked above, he hadn’t seen his birth mother in about 10 yrs. His primary influences during that time likely have been his father and stepmother. He and his father and step mom have to accept that. It also sounds like he was involved in LE community based activities. Somewhere along the line he became involved in white supremacy groups and ideology. It will be interesting to learn more about his online activities.

 

[Dotta]

FSU shooter's cop stepmom taught him how to handle guns

The Leon County Sheriff's Office said the mother of the alleged gunman in FSU's shooting on Thursday, who is a deputy in the department, taught him how to shoot when he was young.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I agree with most of this, but regarding "Not unless he thought his life was in danger," that isn't actually true.

The "Criterion A" for a PTSD diagnosis include:

(Source: DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD)

It isn't necessary to believe your life is in danger to develop PTSD. That's a common misconception, but I think it's important for people to understand.

Is the objection that I didn't include serious injury? The others don't apply in this case as far as I know.

 

[arielilane]

@ABC


"I released all the muscles in my body, closed my eyes and held my breath."Madison Askins, a Florida State University graduate student, shared the harrowing moment she was shot on campus and forced to play dead as the gunman reloaded.

Read more: https://abcnews.link/577Rhuv

https://twitter.com/x/status/1913382824431824993

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1913294151040606426

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1913632029196828865