Tragic Shooting Links Past Family Betrayal to New Heartache

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A shooting at Florida State University on Thursday left the campus and a family mourning. Robert Morales, 57, was one of the two victims killed when gunfire erupted, just weeks after reconnecting with his brother, Ricardo, through social media after decades apart.

Ricardo Morales, who lives in Michigan, was devastated upon learning of the tragic news. “It’s just eating me up inside that this is the way people in my family are going out,” he said. “He was such a good person. He didn’t deserve that.” The shooting also left five others injured.

Robert, who served as the university’s dining coordinator and was active in coaching local high school football, had a passion for guiding youth. Leon High School Athletics Department hailed him as a “beloved member of the athletic community,” stating his commitment to shaping the lives of his players was unmatched.

Born in Miami, the Morales brothers were separated after their father’s murder in 1982. Ricardo and Robert grew up in different households but shared fond memories of their childhood. “He remembers more than I do that I taught him karate when we were kids,” Ricardo recalled.

The fate that brought the brothers back together was rooted in their father’s tumultuous history as a CIA informant known as ‘Monkey.’ Their father’s violent death caused the family to disperse across the country in fear of reprisals, leading to their disconnection for years.

Both brothers spent decades reshaping their lives away from their father’s tragic legacy. After Robert discovered Ricardo on Twitter seven years ago, they reignited their bond by communicating daily and visiting each other frequently.

In a heartbreaking twist, Ricardo noted that Robert was waiting for a new kidney after a transplant failed two years ago. “He was fighting to stay alive for his family,” Ricardo said, expressing sorrow that his brother’s life was cut short in such a violent manner.

The shooter has been identified as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old student at FSU and the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. Ikner opened fire at the university’s dining area, utilizing a service weapon that belonged to his stepmother. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting.

Ricardo, while supportive of Second Amendment rights, is calling for gun reform to prevent similar tragedies. “We would love for the world to go in the direction of caring about people over money and business,” he stated.

As the community grapples with this senseless act of violence, Florida State University has announced that classes will resume on Monday, emphasizing the need for everyone to take care of themselves during this difficult time.