Orlando shooter Omar Mateen bounced around in 10 or so jobs between 2001 and 2016, including working briefly at a Florida Chick-fil-A location, according to published reports.
Mateen, who has been named as the gunman in the Sunday massacre that left 49 dead and 53 wounded at gay nightclub Pulse, worked at a Chick-fil-A in Jensen Beach, Fla., in 2004.
It was one of numerous jobs he held, including stints at grocery giant Publix, Circuit City, Walgreens, Gold’s Gym and health food chain GNC.
In a statement, Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A said, “We can confirm the gunman was employed briefly by one of our franchise Operators more than 10 years ago.”
His employment history has come up as new details are released about Mateen, who was born in New York 29 years ago. Reports said he changed his last name from Seddique to Mateen in 2006, though it was unclear why.
A handful of workers from a Chick-fil-A store in Orlando broke with tradition Sunday and handed out sandwiches and offered iced tea to hundreds of people waiting to donate blood in the wake of the shooting.
Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays as mandated by founder Truett Cathy who believed it is a day to spend with family.
About the Author
