WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:08.439 Free audio post production by Alphonic dot Com. 2 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:11.160 We have an active shooter, we have anatter shoots ahead 3 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:14.679 and pay with the mass casualty. 4 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:20.160 Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that covers the wys, 5 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:23.920 the hows, and the aftermath of active shooter and mass 6 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:32.200 casualty events. They have an active shooter in the building 7 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.640 and teching call says they are bigot cat what six 8 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:40.200 nay les? We got shot Squires four fifteen as Brouch 9 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:40.759 ninety one. 10 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:41.600 So I'm like, no, I'm. 11 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:42.119 Mad a fire on. 12 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:57.200 Active shooter. 13 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.240 It's of an active shooter, active shooter, active. 14 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:05.640 Shooter with match casualty incidents. Thank you for listening. 15 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:10.879 You are listening to Active Shooter, a podcast that may 16 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:15.120 contain adult themes, explicit language, and graphic depictions of violence. 17 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:18.840 Portions of this show may be traumatic for those under eighteen. 18 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:21.760 Listener discretion is advised. 19 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.840 Breaking news and we continue to follow breaking news out 20 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:31.000 of Tallahassee. Two people killed and six heard in a 21 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.640 shooting on the campus of Florida State University today. 22 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:39.120 Oh my gosh, you guys, Okay, you're lucky. 23 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:43.200 You can hear how shaken up people are. The new 24 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.239 details we've been learning tonight as the investigation into the 25 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.280 shooting is just beginning. 26 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:54.920 The gentle hum of spring on a university campus, a 27 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.400 season of burgeoning intellect and youthful promise, was abruptly and 28 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:06.239 irrevocably silenced on April seventeenth, twenty twenty five. On that 29 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:11.319 sun drenched day, the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee 30 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:16.199 became the tragic stage for an act of unspeakable violence, 31 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:21.719 forever altering its serene landscape and the lives intertwined with it. 32 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.319 The alleged perpetrator, a twenty year old student, now stands 33 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.680 accused of two counts of first degree murder and seven 34 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:34.120 counts of attempted first degree murder, charges that speak to 35 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:38.960 the profound devastation he wrought. The immediate shock and sorrow 36 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:44.039 that rippled through the university community and beyond underscored the 37 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:51.080 pervasive vulnerability to such sudden, brutal incursions. Now, this is 38 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:56.360 not merely a recitation of facts, but a deeper examination 39 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:00.719 to the genesis and unfolding of the tragedy. We hope 40 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:04.840 to convey the human cost, dissect the complex background of 41 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:09.680 the alleged shooter, and most crucially, convey the lives of 42 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:15.080 the victims while identifying the underlying factors and vulnerabilities that 43 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:52.319 permitted such an event to materialize. Welcome listeners to Active Shooter. 44 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.439 I'm JT, your host, and this is where we delve 45 00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:01.000 into the chilling whys, the harrowing howse, and the enduring 46 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:05.680 aftermath of Active Shooter and mass casualty events. Thank you 47 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:11.159 for joining us on this journey into the shadows. If 48 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:13.240 you look this case up, you'll find that the name 49 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:16.720 of the shooter in this episode is wholly inaccurate. For 50 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.439 those of you who have been with us before, you 51 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.480 know that our team has taken the no Notoriety pledge. 52 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.720 This means we will never utter the real name of 53 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:30.800 the individuals responsible for the tragedies we cover. Instead, we'll 54 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:33.680 assign them a pseudonym, and that's the name you'll hear 55 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:37.319 throughout each episode. It helps us keep the narrative clear 56 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.600 while staying true to our commitment denying these perpetrators the 57 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.000 infamy they often crave. In today's episode, we will refer 58 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:57.160 to the shooter as Phil. The prelude to the terror 59 00:04:57.639 --> 00:05:01.839 was marked by an unsettling stillness at eleven a m. 60 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:06.240 On April seventeenth, twenty twenty five, the suspect Phil arrived 61 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:10.680 at a Florida State University parking garage. For nearly an hour, 62 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:15.199 he remained mostly within his vehicle, occasionally stepping out to 63 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:21.439 survey the surroundings. This period of quiet observation, a chilling overture, 64 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:28.199 suggests a methodical premeditation, a deliberate calibration of intent before 65 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:32.120 this storm was unleashed. At eleven fifty one a m. 66 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:35.439 The suspect departed the parking garage, driving to a service 67 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.680 road adjacent to the student union, where he parked. At 68 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.680 eleven fifty seven a m. The initial moments of his 69 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.160 confrontation with the campus were marked by a technical falter. 70 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:50.920 He exited his car and aimed a shotgun at a student, 71 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:56.160 but the weapon failed to fire. Without hesitation, he returned 72 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:01.279 to his vehicle, retrieving his stepmother's glock handgun. This pivotal moment, 73 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:07.000 a fleeting reprieve offered by a malfunctioning weapon, tragically gave 74 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:12.920 way to a more reliable instrument of death. The onslaught 75 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:17.600 that followed unfolded with astonishing speed, a compressed maelstrom of 76 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:21.560 violence that left little time for reaction. At eleven fifty 77 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:26.240 seven am, Phil was captured on CCTV running towards the 78 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.279 student Union, the handgun concealed in his right pocket. Just 79 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:34.920 two seconds later, at eleven fifty seven the first shots 80 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:39.959 rang out, wounding two students on the lawn outside the union. 81 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.040 A video captured the chilling image of a person seemingly 82 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:48.560 casual in shorts and a T shirt, walking and firing 83 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:53.720 across the campus lawn, a stark juxtaposition of mundane appearance 84 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:59.040 and deadly intent. After firing across the lawn, the suspect 85 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:03.040 ran towards the student Union, breaching its perceived sanctuary at 86 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:06.560 eleven fifty eight am, where he began chasing people through 87 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:11.199 the building's interior. The first fatality soon followed. Phil pursued 88 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:15.360 campus vendor Tiru Chappa out of the building, shot him, 89 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:20.439 and then, with chilling deliberation, returned to Chapa twenty seconds 90 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:24.879 later to shoot him again. Moments later, he ran towards 91 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.079 the union's bookstore, firing at a group of students outside, 92 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:32.680 hitting three non fatally, and continuing to chase them as 93 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:36.480 they fled. He then returned to the bookstore's entrance, firing 94 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:38.879 at another student but missing. 95 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.399 True, was play dead, play dead, It's gonna be okay, 96 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:50.160 play dead, wait for the cops. He came around kind 97 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.399 of like the corner of that service road, and I 98 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:54.600 saw him with a gun and took off running, and 99 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:58.160 unfortunately I fell because I'm not the most graceful individual. 100 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:02.680 And then he shot me right in the right in 101 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:08.199 the rear end, and then my friend took off as 102 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.120 he as they should. And alls I could think of 103 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:13.399 in that moment was I just needed to play dead. 104 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:17.319 So I really saw the muscles in my body. I 105 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.319 closed my eyes, I held my breath, and I took 106 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:24.600 short breaths in between when I needed to. I've been 107 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.360 It's been drilled into me my Both my parents are 108 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:30.800 retired marines on how to handle crisis situations, both like 109 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:35.240 active shooters or bomb threats. So I played dad. I 110 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:42.000 then heard the shooter come up. He reloaded next to me. 111 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:45.200 I actually wanted to roll over and call my dad 112 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.600 because I thought he'd stepped away from me at one point, 113 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.519 and I wanted to give my last I love yous, 114 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:52.720 and I figured it'd be better to call my dad 115 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.919 than my mom, because if God forbid, something did happen 116 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:58.480 and I got shot again. My I thought my dad 117 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.600 could handle it more emotionally that my mother could while 118 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:05.720 still relaying a message. So in that moment, that's what 119 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.039 I wanted to do. And then I heard him say yeah, 120 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:11.600 keep running while he was near me, and I knew 121 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:13.720 I did not need to move, so I just stayed there. 122 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:18.600 The violence then shifted back inside the union at eleven 123 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:22.600 fifty nine am. The suspect re entered the building. Around 124 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:26.639 the same time, Campus dining director Robert Morales was observed 125 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:30.639 walking quickly in the food court. Twelve seconds later, Phil 126 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:34.440 ran up behind Morales, fatally shooting him twice in the back, 127 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:40.080 then firing two more shots into his body. This methodical, 128 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:45.600 close range execution showed a cold, determined intent. The final 129 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:49.360 moments of mayhem inside the building saw the suspect chasing 130 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.440 a student out of the building while shooting at her. 131 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.960 He then exited the building himself at twelve pm. The 132 00:09:56.039 --> 00:10:00.679 university's initial active shooter alert was issued only after twelve pm, 133 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:06.159 a critical delay given the rapid escalation of events. The 134 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.639 police response, however, was swift. Just three minutes and three 135 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:14.000 seconds after the first shot was fired, the suspect was 136 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.320 shot by police outside the student union for refusing to 137 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:21.519 comply with commands while firing his handgun at another person 138 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.399 attempting to flee. 139 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.879 I knew it was over when I had multiple officers 140 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.919 around me telling me they got him. Everything's okay. 141 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:33.559 A second active shooter alert was issued at twelve nineteen pm, 142 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:38.559 approximately fifteen minutes later, all students inside the building were 143 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:42.879 escorted out by police. By shortly after three pm, the 144 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.399 university lifted the lockdown for most of the campus, though 145 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:51.840 nine buildings remained under lockdown as active crime scenes. The 146 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:56.039 true measure of violence is found not merely in the 147 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.879 minutes of its unfolding, but in the enduring void it 148 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:03.559 leaves behind in the hearts and minds of countless people. 149 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:24.840 This shooting claimed two lives and physically wounded seven others, 150 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:31.759 leaving an indelible mark on countless more. Behind every statistic 151 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:37.480 lies a life, a family, and a community irrevocably changed. 152 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.759 The two adult males killed were Robert Morales fifty seven, 153 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.879 the campus dining director, and Tiru Chappa, forty five, a 154 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:50.759 regional vice president at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. Neither of the 155 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:54.559 deceased was a student at the university, which is a 156 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:58.600 reminder of the indiscriminate nature of the attack, which spared 157 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:02.519 no one in its path, regardless of their direct affiliation 158 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:09.120 or role within the academic community. Robert Morales, at fifty seven, 159 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.679 was more than a campus dining director. He was a 160 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:16.000 man deeply woven into the fabric of South Florida and 161 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:21.399 the FSU community. He grew up in Hialaia, maintaining strong 162 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:26.240 ties to Miami throughout his life. His father, Ricardo Monkey Morales, 163 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.759 was a Cuban American CIA operative involved in anti castro operations, 164 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.120 whose death when Robert was a teenager left a lasting impact. 165 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.879 Robert had worked in FSU's dining services department for nine 166 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:45.039 years and also served as an assistant football coach since 167 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:49.279 twenty fifteen. He was one of the original founders of 168 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.879 Gordo's Cuban Cuisine, a popular Tallahassee restaurant where he was 169 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:57.960 known for his generosity, often providing free meals to students 170 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.639 in need. A close friend, Adolf Toussaint, remembered Morales as 171 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:08.159 a loyal and supportive companion, particularly through their shared battle 172 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:12.200 with kidney disease. Morales's recovery from a twenty twenty one 173 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:16.120 kidney transplant was considered a miracle by his family, and 174 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:19.279 he continued to support Tussan through his own health journey. 175 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:24.080 Tucson recalled that Morales quote loved his job. He loved 176 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:27.600 the people he worked with because what he was doing 177 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:30.320 was using his mind and using his heart for the 178 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:33.679 students out there. He was a mentor to many. He 179 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:38.360 supported many. It's just a hard thing to comprehend why 180 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:42.399 Robert Morales leaves behind his wife and daughter, whose lives 181 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:46.639 are now forever marked by this senseless act. He was 182 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:50.279 killed while attending a work meeting with other university employees. 183 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:55.399 Now Tsiu Chapa, forty five was a regional vice president 184 00:13:55.399 --> 00:14:00.600 at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. Hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, he 185 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.879 was a dedicated professional, but more importantly, a loving father 186 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.120 and devoted husband, survived by his wife and two children. 187 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:15.519 His family's attorney, Bakari Sellers, expressed the unimaginable grief they 188 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:19.679 were enduring, stating that Chappa was quote stolen from them 189 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:24.480 in an act of senseless and preventable violence. His death, 190 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:30.000 like Morales, underscores the profound and indiscriminate nature of the attack, 191 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:34.320 reaching beyond the student body to impact those who served 192 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:40.600 the university community. Seven individuals sustained injuries during the attack, 193 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:43.759 six were wounded by gunfire, and one was injured while 194 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:48.639 fleeing the chaos. In the immediate aftermath, all seven injured 195 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:52.080 victims were reported to be in fair condition, a small 196 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:57.120 beacon of resilience amidst the devastation. One of the injured 197 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:00.159 was a twenty three year old graduate student shot in 198 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:04.120 the buttocks while attempting to escape, a detail that humanizes 199 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:07.639 the abstract numbers and underscores the terror of the moment. 200 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:12.480 By April eighteenth, two injured victims were expected to be discharged, 201 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:15.759 three remained in good condition, and one was still in 202 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:19.679 fair condition, with the surgeon expressing confidence that all would 203 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:25.399 make a full recovery. A particularly unsettling aspect of the 204 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:29.799 attack was the finding by the Tallahassee Police Department chief, 205 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:32.600 who stated that there appeared to be no connection between 206 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:36.720 the shooter and the victims. This absence of a direct 207 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.879 personal link between the perpetrator and those he harmed aligns 208 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:45.120 with the pattern observed in mass violence, particularly the concept 209 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:51.720 of fictional grievance. In such instances, perpetrators often target individuals indiscriminately, 210 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:56.320 or as symbolic representations of a broader perceived enemy, rather 211 00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:00.360 than specific persons who have caused them harm. Now, this 212 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:04.039 suggests that the victims were likely chosen not due to 213 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:09.039 personal animosity, but as symbols of Phil's deeply ingrained hateful 214 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:14.759 ideologies which he had cultivated and espoused. This pattern highlights 215 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:20.600 the profound challenge of protecting specific individuals through targeted security measures, 216 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:25.120 and shifts the focus of prevention to combating radicalization and 217 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:30.519 hate speech at a society level, addressing the underlying currents 218 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:36.360 which can lead to such generalized yet devastating violence. The 219 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:39.960 suspect Phil was also among the injured, having been shot 220 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:43.600 once in the jaw by police. He remained hospitalized for 221 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:48.799 a month, undergoing multiple surgeries to significant injuries, and was 222 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:53.200 initially unable to speak with law enforcement. Upon his release 223 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:56.200 on May twelfth, twenty twenty five, he was transferred to 224 00:16:56.279 --> 00:17:00.519 the Wacula County Detention Facility, a decision in tluence by 225 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:04.440 his familiar relation to a Leon County Sheriff's Office reserve deputy. 226 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:09.440 This detail hints at the complexities and ethical considerations involved 227 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:13.440 in handling high profile cases where the perpetrator's personal connections 228 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:32.599 intersect with the very institutions tasked with upholding justice. Now 229 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:36.599 Fill's journey from a child grappling with the early developmental 230 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:41.920 challenges to an alleged mass murderer, Well, it's a harrowing narrative, 231 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:48.559 woven from threads of profound instability, ideological radicalization, and missing 232 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:54.319 warning signs. Understanding this dissent is crucial for identifying potential 233 00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:00.480 avenues of intervention in future cases. Born on August eighteen, 234 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:03.519 two thousand and four, his name was legally changed in 235 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:09.039 twenty twenty. This alteration, occurring just five years before the shooting, 236 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:13.799 might symbolize a deliberate attempt to shed a past laden 237 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:18.359 with turmoil, or to forge a new, perhaps more defiant identity. 238 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:24.000 His early life was marked by significant vulnerabilities. Court records 239 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.160 from twenty eleven reveal he had to repeat kindergarten, an 240 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:32.440 early indicator of academic or developmental struggles. He was also 241 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.599 on medication for developmental delays, special needs of growth hormone disorder, 242 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:42.480 and ADHD. These factors collectively suggest a foundation of difficulty 243 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:47.720 in navigating the social, emotional, and academic complexities of childhood, 244 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:54.599 potentially leading to feelings of frustration, isolation, or inadequacy. Compounding 245 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:59.200 these personal challenges was a childhood's steeped and familial strife. 246 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.559 His parents in dured a bitter custody battle throughout his 247 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:07.359 formative years, a conflict punctuated by disturbing allegations of domestic 248 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:13.720 violence and stalking. The trauma of this unstable environment culminated 249 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:17.720 in March twenty fifteen, when his biological mother took him 250 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:22.119 to Oslo, Norway, in direct violation of a custody agreement. 251 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.599 She was arrested for kidnapping in July twenty fifteen, and 252 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:31.720 both were returned to Leon County. Such extremely familial instability, 253 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:37.880 legal entanglement, and psychological upheaval can profoundly impact a child's development, 254 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:43.680 fostering a deep sense of powerlessness and injustice. This chaotic 255 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:48.720 upbringing aligns strongly with the profile of a quote traumatized attacker, 256 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:53.559 a psychological typology of mass shooters characterized by instability, a 257 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:57.279 history of abuse, and a tendency to store up grievances. 258 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:03.160 Individuals shaped by so much profound early trauma may seek 259 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:07.799 a transformative sense of power or significance, sometimes through the 260 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:13.640 adoption of rigid often hateful ideologies that provide a framework 261 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:18.839 for externalizing personal suffering onto perceived enemies, making violence a 262 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:24.559 distorted means of asserting control or identity. This suggests that 263 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:29.359 early intervention for childhood trauma and providing comprehensive mental health 264 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.200 and social support services for vulnerable youth is not merely 265 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:37.079 a matter of public health, but a critical long term 266 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:43.519 violence prevention strategy. Phil's educational journey saw him graduate from 267 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:46.559 Lincoln High School in May twenty twenty two, after which 268 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:51.079 he attended Tallahassee State College before transferring to Florida State University. 269 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:56.079 These transitions, while normal for many, may have presented additional 270 00:20:56.119 --> 00:21:01.000 stressors or opportunities for his evolving worldview to solidify, even 271 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:06.319 if they were voluntary. The most disturbing aspect of Phil's 272 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:12.160 later years was his demonstrable embrace of extremist ideologies. Despite 273 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:15.720 having been a member of the Leon County Sheriff's Offices 274 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.680 Youth Advisory Council from twenty twenty one to twenty twenty two, 275 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:24.640 a program ostensibly designed to foster positive civic engagement, he 276 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:29.960 simultaneously or subsequently espoused white supremacist, far right and homophobic views. 277 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:36.039 This contradiction. Participation in a community oriented, law enforcement affiliated 278 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:41.079 program while harboring deeply hateful and dangerous beliefs reveals a 279 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:46.319 troubling paradox. It suggests either a deliberate facade, a rapid 280 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:51.559 radicalization that went undetected, or a fundamental failure of existing 281 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:56.319 community programs to thoroughly assess or monitor participants for deeper 282 00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:02.279 concerning ideological shifts. This phenomenon underscores the immense difficulty in 283 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:06.680 identifying individuals at risk when they can present vastly different 284 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:11.960 public and private personas, emphasizing the need for comprehensive intelligence 285 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:19.119 gathering beyond service level interactions. His ideological immersion was not subtle. 286 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:23.440 Phil harbored a disturbing fascination with Adolf Hitler and Nazism, 287 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:27.400 frequently engaging in political arguments and actively joining hate groups. 288 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:30.519 He used a drawing of Hitler for an online gaming 289 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:35.160 account and named another account Schutztaffel, a direct reference to 290 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:39.640 the Nazi paramilitary organization. The fact that he was expelled 291 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:43.319 from a political group at Tallahassee State College further indicates 292 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:46.640 that his views were extreme enough to be rejected even 293 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:52.039 by peers within a political context, signaling a significant escalation 294 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:59.359 of his radicalization beyond mainstream discourse. Phil's background, when examined 295 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:04.039 through the lens of established behavioral patterns and psychological typologies 296 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:07.319 of mass shooters, reveals a series of critical warning signs 297 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:10.920 that in retrospect, painted a grim picture of escalating risk. 298 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:17.079 His unstable, chaotic childhood, marked by severe abuse through the 299 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:21.640 bitter custody battle, allegations of domestic abuse, and the international 300 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:27.519 kidnapping incident, aligns powerfully with doctor Langman's traumatized attacker profile. 301 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:33.519 As mentioned earlier, This profile describes individuals who often feel 302 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:37.759 like victims of injustice and tend to store up grievances, 303 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.799 leading them to seek a transformational purpose through violence, moving 304 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:46.400 from a place of powerlessness to becoming powerful, known, and 305 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:51.440 to gaining personal significance. FIL's later embrace of white supremacist 306 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.680 and Nazi ideologies and his joining of hate groups can 307 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:57.759 be understood as a means to channel these stored grievances 308 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:01.119 and find a sense of belonging and power within an 309 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:07.160 extremist framework. Furthermore, Phil exhibited several common traits found among 310 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:12.880 mass shooters. He is male, acted alone, experienced significant stressors 311 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:16.559 and loss in the form of childhood trauma and family conflict, 312 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:20.799 and he clearly planned his actions, as evidenced by his 313 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:24.240 lingering in the parking garage and the deliberate retrieval of 314 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:28.519 a more effective weapon after the shotgun failed. His deeply 315 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:33.720 ingrained quote grievances, fueled by his radicalized views, provided a 316 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:40.400 distorted justification for his actions. Crucially, Phil's frequent arguments about politics, 317 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:43.680 his active participation in hate groups, and his use of 318 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:48.440 Nazi related online account names constitute clear examples of what's 319 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:52.880 known as leakage. This phenomenon, where perpetrators communicate their plans 320 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:56.119 or intentions in advance, whether in person, in writing, or 321 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.759 over social media, is identified as one of the most 322 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:03.920 reliable indicators of individuals at risk of committing violence. The 323 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:09.400 presence of such overt warning signs without effective intervention represents 324 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:14.599 a significant systemic vulnerability. This underscores the critical need we 325 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:18.400 have for robust, anonymous reporting systems and a culture where 326 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:23.839 individuals feel safe and empowered to report concerning behaviors, ensuring 327 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:29.359 that signals of distress or intent are not overlooked, but 328 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:35.319 instead trigger timely and appropriate threat assessments. His espousal of 329 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:38.680 white supremacist far right in homophobic views, coupled with his 330 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:42.920 affiliation with hate groups, aligns perfectly with the common themes 331 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:47.880 of misogyny, racism, and extremist group affiliation found among mass shooters. 332 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:53.599 This ideological component provides a quote fictional grievance justification for 333 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:57.359 indiscriminate violence where victims are chosen as symbols rather than 334 00:25:57.400 --> 00:26:02.319 personal targets. And perhaps the most glaring and preventable red 335 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:06.480 flag was Phil's access to firearms. He obtained the guns 336 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:09.480 used in the shooting from his stepmother, a Leon County 337 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:12.920 Sheriff's Office reserve deputy, with one of the weapons being 338 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:18.960 her former service weapon. This fact tragically illustrates a pervasive trend. 339 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:23.759 A vast majority of school shooters eighty percent or three quarters, 340 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:27.480 acquire their guns from their home, a family member, or 341 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:31.680 a friend. This particular instance where the firearms originated from 342 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:34.799 the law enforcement household, talks about how there is a 343 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:39.599 critical vulnerability in secure gun storage practices. It highlights that 344 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:43.640 even those professionally trained in firearm use may underestimate the 345 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:48.599 risk posed by unsecured weapons, especially when a household member 346 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:53.839 exhibits concerning behaviors such as a troubled history, developmental issues, 347 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:59.160 or extremist leanings. This reinforces that urgent need for universal 348 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:04.279 secure storage practices and public awareness campaigns, regardless of household 349 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:34.000 background or professional affiliation. The immediate aftermath of the FSU 350 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:37.799 shooting saw a campus and its surrounded communities grapple with 351 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:41.839 the profound shock and sorrow of the event, prompting both 352 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:46.240 reactive measures and a broader societal discourse on gun violence. 353 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:52.119 The university's response was swift, albeit reactive, in its protective measures. 354 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:55.880 All classes and business operations were canceled through April eighteenth, 355 00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:01.359 and all home athletic events through April twentieth. Effect extended 356 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:05.559 beyond FSU's immediate perimeter, with classes also canceled at nearby 357 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:09.759 Florida A and M University in Tallahassee State College and 358 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:16.039 increased police patrols initiated at Florida International University. The regional 359 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:21.640 impact of the tragedy and the immediate security concerns were vast. 360 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.480 Amidst the institutional responses, a powerful outpouring of grief and 361 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:31.759 community solidarity emerged. A large makeshift memorial spontaneously appeared near 362 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.000 the shooting site, adorned with crosses bearing the names of 363 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:39.960 the victims. A poignant testament to the lives lost. A vigil, 364 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:43.720 a collective space for morning and shared sorrow, was held 365 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:47.480 at Langford Green in front of Doke Campbell Stadium on 366 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:52.440 April eighteen. In a practical display of compassion, the FSU 367 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:56.880 Foundation established a Student Emergency Fund designed to provide immediate 368 00:28:56.920 --> 00:29:01.039 financial support to affected students and their families, addressing the 369 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:05.680 tangible needs arising from a crisis such as this. The 370 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:10.960 tragedy also ignited broader societal reactions and discourse. A viral 371 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:14.440 video depicting a person walking past a wounded victim to 372 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:19.799 drink Starbucks coffee sparked widespread outrage on social media, reflecting 373 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:24.920 public shock, disbelief, and a profound questioning of human empathy 374 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:28.920 in moments of crisis. Political figures from across the spectrum 375 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:33.920 offered condemnations and condolences. President Donald Trump described the event 376 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:37.920 as a quote horrible thing, while Governor Ron DeSantis and 377 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.839 Attorney General Pam Bondi offered prayers for responding law enforcement. 378 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:47.920 Senator Ashley Moody prayed for student safety, and DHS Christy 379 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:52.799 Nome expressed heartbreak. FBI Director Cash Pateel offered full support 380 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:56.240 to local law enforcement, and Governor DeSantis ordered flags to 381 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:59.200 be flown at half masted until April twenty first to 382 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:06.160 honor victim and first responders, a symbolic gesture of statewide mourning. Crucially, 383 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:10.519 the voices of gun violence activists and survivors, particularly those 384 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:15.599 from the Parkland shooting, resonated with a renewed urgency. David Hogg, 385 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:20.720 a Democratic National Committee vice chair and Parkland survivor, expressed 386 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:24.720 profound concerns about gun safety and the re traumatizing impact 387 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:30.119 on fellow Parkland survivors experiencing a second school shooting at FSU. 388 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:35.880 Fred Gutenberg, father of Parkland victim Jamie Gutenberg, spoke passionately 389 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:39.880 against gun violence, emphasizing the tragic recurrence of such events 390 00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:44.559 and the urgent need for systemic change. Other Parkland parents 391 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:48.839 and survivors echoed similar sentiments, bringing a critical perspective that 392 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:54.680 demanded concrete policy action beyond immediate expressions of grief. Even 393 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:58.759 the Miami Heat basketball team expressed devastation, joining the chorus 394 00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:05.240 calling for meaning full reform to end gun violence. The 395 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:09.240 twenty twenty five Florida State University shooting stands as a 396 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:13.359 profound testament to the fragility of peace and the devastating 397 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:18.839 consequences of unchecked grievances and readily accessible instruments of violence. 398 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:25.880 The meticulously reconstructed timeline reveals a terrifyingly rapid descent into chaos, 399 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:31.319 highlighting how mere minutes can forever alter lives and shatter 400 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:35.759 the sense of security within a community. The lives lost 401 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:40.000