The Florida gun shop owner who was thrust into the spotlight following the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando is a distant cousin of Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity.
“Ed Henson, a highly decorated retired NYPD detective, who was also a 9/11 and Flight 587 first responder, is a second cousin of mine,” Hannity told TVNewser Thursday afternoon.
TVNewser contacted Hannity after receiving a tip that Henson, owner of the St. Lucie Shooting Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., was related to the FNC host. This week, Henson said of the Orlando suspect “an evil person came in here and legally purchased two firearms from us … and if he hadn’t purchased them from us, I’m sure he would’ve gotten them from another local gun store in the area.”
Henson is a former New York City Police detective who retired to Florida. He has worked with the ATF in tracking how suspect Omar Mateen obtained weapons used in the attack in Orlando.
“All indications are that he followed the Florida state law as a licensed dealer and the ATF has also acknowledged that no laws were broken,” Hannity said. “As I have been saying for days, my prayers and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all of the victims.”