Man who sold Orlando shooter his rifle is related to Sean Hannity

The store owner who sold the firearms used last week in the Orlando mass shooting is a relative of Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the latest in a series of bizarre twistsconnected to a tragedy that claimed the lives of 49 people.

“I am sorry he picked my place. I wish he picked no place,” Ed Henson told reporters this week.

Henson is Hannity’s second cousin, according to the Wrap.

The shooter, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, used a handgun and a Sig Sauer MCX rifle that he purchased as St. Lucie Shooting Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to carry out last Sunday’s mass shooting. Mateen made two separate trips to Henson’s store.

Asked about his cousin, Hannity told Adweek’s TVNewser blog, “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.”

“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,” he added. “As I have been saying for days, my prayers and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all of the victims.”

Henson is working with federal officials to determine how Mateen was able to purchase the firearms.

“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,” he told reporters this week. “I am sorry he picked my place. I wish he picked no place.”

The shooting spree last weekend also left 53 people seriously injured.

“He lived down there and I lived up here and I never got a chance to teach him how to handle firearms,” Bando said of his late son. “I think if we’d have lived in closer proximity, he would have become proficient.”

“He probably would’ve gotten a [concealed weapon license] and carried a gun and that could’ve made a difference last night,” he added.