The adoptive mother of 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who is accused of killing 17 people and wounding several others with an AR-15 rifle at a Florida high school Wednesday, lived on Long Island.

According to the Sun Sentinel, Lynda Cruz and her husband adopted Nikolas Cruz and his biological brother, Zachary, after the couple moved from Long Island to Broward County, Florida. The mother died of pneumonia Nov. 1, and the father died of a heart attack several years ago.

Barbara Kumbatovich, a family member located in Riverhead, said the boys were left in the care of a family friend.

Nikolas Cruz then asked to move in with a friend's family in northwest Broward.

The suspect was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder Thursday morning after being questioned for hours by state and federal authorities.