FSU shooting victim alleges school was negligent in keeping campus safe

Nearly a year and half after the mass shootings on Florida State University’s campus, a victim has filed a negligence lawsuit against the university.

In the suit, filed in Circuit Court in Leon County Monday, graduate student Madison Askins alleges the Student Union at FSU lacked proper security to prevent the shootings.

Two people dead, six injured, suspect in custody after FSU shooting

“On the date of the incident, Defendant owed Plaintiff, as a student, a duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of the plaintiff,” the six-page complaint argues. 

Represented by Morgan & Morgan, Askins seeks damages worth more than $50,000.

FSU breached its duty by “negligently failing to inspect or adequately inspect the area in and around the student union of the Premises where students are instructed to go under the supervision and/or instructions of Defendant’s agents, representatives and/or employees for entry/exit of its Premises, to determine whether the dangerous condition existed at the time Plaintiff was in the area,” the suit claims.

The FSU Board of Trustees is the sole defendant. 

“Defendant is responsible for the negligent acts and omissions of its agents, servants and/or employees, or any other company, entity or agency responsible for maintaining the Premises in a safe condition under the doctrine of respondeat superior.”

The complaint cites the doctrine of respondeat superior, which, according to Daniel J.H. Greenwood, a Hofstra University law professor, “is the doctrine that states that an employer is responsible for an employee.”

The alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner, remains in jail awaiting trial, which has been postponed until the summer of 2027.

Following the 2025 shooting, Askins spoke with ABC News from her hospital room, saying she played dead after being shot. According to that report, she was wounded in her lower back.

Alleged FSU shooter consulted ChatGPT on when to attack, sexual scenarios with a minor

Families of the two people who died in the shooting filed lawsuits against ChatGPT.  The first suit, filed in May, claims the alleged shooter was “co-conspiring” with its AI chatbot. A similar suit was filed last week. 

The state filed suit against ChatGPT earlier this year, alleging the company should have known the damage its chatbot would cause.

FSU did not respond to a Tuesday afternoon request for comment.

The shooting prompted passage of a package of provisions related to campus safety during the 2026 legislative session, including allowing authorized faculty members to carry guns.