The grandmother of alleged Florida State University shooter Phoenix Ikner has come forward with a scathing indictment of his parents, claiming their influence turned a once “sweet” child into a killer.
In an emotional interview with DailyMail.com, 79-year-old Susan Eriksen said the bloodshed that left two dead and five injured at FSU was the product of a toxic home environment led by Phoenix’s father and stepmother — the latter a sheriff’s deputy who once owned the weapon allegedly used in the attack.
“They taught him how to hunt, they’re bigoted people, they hated a lot of people,” Eriksen said through tears. “The rotten bastard people. I have no idea what we’re going to do now.”
Eriksen, who is the mother of Phoenix’s biological mom, Anne Marie Eriksen, said she hadn’t seen her grandson in a decade due to a bitter custody battle. She described Phoenix as a bright and kind child before being cut off from his maternal family.
The alleged shooter, 20, reportedly used his stepmother’s old service pistol to open fire near the campus student union. Two Aramark employees — Robert Morales, 57, and Tiru Chabba, 45 — were killed. Five others were injured before police shot and detained Ikner. He is expected to survive.
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His mother, Anne Marie, also broke her silence, telling reporters she was overwhelmed by the tragedy. “I’m just as shocked as everybody else,” she said. “It’s very upsetting … you just don’t think this is going to happen.”
Students and classmates have since come forward alleging Ikner held “white supremacist” views and regularly made racially charged remarks in class. One classmate, Lucas Luzietti, said he tried to push back on Ikner’s extremist views in classroom discussions.
“This man should not have access to firearms,” Luzietti told USA Today. “The things he said were disgusting.”
The shooting has reignited debate over Florida’s lack of effective red flag laws, especially in a state where firearm access remains largely unchecked — even in cases with clear warning signs.
As of now, authorities have not announced a motive.
Featured image via screengrab
