Widow of FSU Shooting Victim Sues OpenAI

Vandana Joshi, whose husband Tiru Chabba was killed in the April 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University, filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI on Sunday. According to the suit, the family alleges that ChatGPT provided the suspected gunman with information that helped plan the attack.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old food service vendor on campus. The other person killed was 57-year-old Robert Morales, who also worked on campus. Six people were wounded in the shooting. The suspected gunman, a 20-year-old student and son of a sheriff’s deputy, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder.

Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty. Florida’s attorney general opened a criminal investigation in April into the matter.

The suit states that in the months leading up to the attack, ChatGPT discussed other mass shootings with the suspect, his interest in Adolf Hitler, and his feelings of loneliness and depression. It also provided details on the time and location that would maximize victims on campus, the type of gun and ammunition to use, and that an attack could gain more media attention if children were involved.

The chatbot allegedly taught him how to use the gun later employed in the shooting. The family argues that OpenAI failed to warn the public or properly represent the risks of the chatbot and should have built safety measures into ChatGPT that would alert police to prevent a specific plan for imminent harm to the public.

OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing. ” The company added that it works continuously to strengthen safeguards to detect harmful intent, limit misuse, and respond appropriately when safety risks arise. OpenAI also noted that the chatbot helped identify the suspect’s account.

Vandana Joshi said in a statement that “OpenAI knew this would happen. ” The suit references prior cases in which OpenAI’s technology has been accused of contributing to harmful outcomes. It contends the company had ample warning that its chatbot could be used to plan violent acts yet did not implement sufficient safeguards.

The case is the latest in a series of legal actions seeking to hold AI companies responsible for real-world consequences of their tools. Florida’s investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for the criminal trial.