The grandmother of the alleged Florida State University mass shooter has hit out at his parents as the investigation continues.
The mass shooting occurred at Florida State University's student union building on Thursday (April 17), resulting in the deaths of two non-students and injuries to five others.
The alleged shooter has been named as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, who police say used his stepmother’s firearm in the deadly rampage.
The two individuals killed in the shooting were identified as Robert Morales, 57, and Tiru Chabba, 45, both employees of the campus food service provider Aramark.
Authorities confirmed that Phoenix Ikner is the stepson of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner, a law enforcement officer with more than 18 years of service. Police believe the gun used in the shooting was her former service weapon.
“This is obviously a heinous crime,” said Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil during a press briefing.
“We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation.”
Ikner’s maternal grandmother, Susan Eriksen, told the Daily Mail that she blames his parents, particularly his stepmother.
“They taught him how to hunt, they’re bigoted people, they hated a lot of people,” the 79-year-old said, referring to Ikner’s father and stepmother.
“He was the sweetest kid, smart… The rotten b*stard people. I have no idea what we’re going to do now, I have no idea.”
She revealed that she hadn’t seen her grandson in a decade due to a bitter custody battle between his biological mother, Anne Marie Eriksen, and his father.
Anne Marie, 46, said she was “shocked” by the events.
“I’m just as shocked as everybody else… I’m sorry, this is very hard,” she told reporters through tears. “You just don’t think this is going to happen. There’s a lot of up and down today.”
As the tragedy made national headlines, Donald Trump was asked about the shooting during a press briefing in the Oval Office.
“I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment, I have been from the beginning. I protected it,” he said. “These things are terrible. But the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do - a phrase that’s used probably too often. It’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now.”
Despite the carnage, Trump did not propose any policy changes.
“This has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment… and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”
As Ikner remains hospitalized and in police custody, the investigation continues. Authorities are combing through his background, online activity, and associations for any indication of a motive.