Mother and Grandmother Reflect on the Troubled Past of Phoenix Ikner, FSU Shooting Suspect

In the wake of the devastating shooting at Florida State University's campus, the biological mother and grandmother of the alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner, have spoken out in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com. They provide a stark account of the 20-year-old's family history, accusing his father and stepmother of being responsible for his alleged radicalization.

Phoenix, suspected of killing two and injuring six others during Thursday's attack in Tallahassee, was identified by authorities as the son of Leon County Sheriff's deputy assistant, Jessica Ikner. Reports indicate that he used his stepmother's firearm in the assault. He remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Susan Eriksen, Ikner's maternal grandmother, described his father, Christopher Ikner, and his wife Jessica as "vile and corrupt individuals" who alienated the young man from his biological family and fostered his violent tendencies. "They taught him to hunt; they're intolerant people who hated many others," the 79-year-old stated.

Eriksen revealed that neither she nor her daughter, Anne Mari Eriksen, Phoenix's biological mother, had seen him for over a decade following a lengthy and contentious custody battle. "He was a sweet, intelligent child... it was the worst custody fight," she lamented.

Meanwhile, Ikner's mother expressed her shock, saying, "I'm as stunned as everyone else... this is incredibly hard, incredibly sad. You just never think this will happen."

She added that they learned about the shooting through television and not from the father, who severed all communication with them years ago. "We tried calling, but he hung up and then changed his number," she recounted.

The two women are seeking ways to visit Phoenix in the hospital, although they claim authorities have denied them access. Court documents cited by DailyMail.com indicate that Anne Mari Eriksen faced multiple charges during the custody dispute, including removing the child from the state. She once took Phoenix to Norway, where they both hold citizenship.

Anne Mari was sentenced to 200 days in jail, having already served 170, and was prohibited from contacting her son, as well as his school, doctors, and extracurricular programs. In legal records, Phoenix is listed by his original name: Christian Eriksen (unrelated to the soccer player of the same name).

On the day of the shooting, the mother shared a social media post, just before the attacker's identity was revealed, expressing concern for her son and accusing the father of parental alienation. "It's awful when your child's alienating father is so mentally unstable, along with his police officer wife," she wrote.

Following the attack, alarming reports about the young man's political and social inclinations began to surface. Former debate group and political club peers at FSU claimed that Ikner openly advocated white supremacy and far-right rhetoric. "He was known for crossing the line. He promoted fascist rhetoric, white supremacist values, and was an ardent supporter of Donald Trump," stated Reid Seybold, president of a political club that expelled him.

Another student, Riley Pusins, confirmed these claims, noting that Phoenix attended weekly meetings and was widely recognized as a "fascist" among his peers.

On Thursday, Ikner was caught on video walking through the FSU campus, indiscriminately shooting at students. Social media was flooded with images of panic and chaos, including scenes of paramedics assisting victims.

Two adult men lost their lives, and six others were injured while fleeing. By Sunday morning, doctors reported that the victims were showing progress in their recovery. Classes at FSU are scheduled to resume on Monday.