Some 24 hours after the attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the bodies of the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in American history were being removed. Omar Mateen opened fire on some 300 patrons in the nightclub, stopping in the middle of the attack to call authorities to say he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
>>Orlando nighclub shooting: What we know now
Mateen, firing an AR-15 rifle and a handgun, continually fired as he moved through the crowded club. According to witnesses, he spoke with some victims, telling them to stop using their phones. By the time Mateen was killed by SWAT members, 49 people were dead and at least 53 were wounded.
(Authorities changed the number of those reported dead early this morning from 50 victims to 49 victims. The 50th person found dead at the scene was the shooter. The stories below were written prior to this morning’s announcement of 49 victims dead).
Here's what is being said
Messaging friends and family
“A day after a gunman shot dead 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, police investigated the attacker's ties to ISIS and Americans grieved over the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Florida, carried an assault rifle and a pistol into the packed Pulse club about 2 a.m. Sunday and started shooting. … After a standoff of about three hours, while people trapped inside the club desperately called and messaged friends and relatives, police crashed into the building with an armored vehicle and stun grenades. They killed Mateen after the rampage -- the deadliest terror attack in the United States since 9/11.”
‘One of the soldiers of the caliphate in America"
“Islamic State radio on Monday called the U.S.-born gunman who opened fire in a packed nightclub, killing at least 50 people, "one of the soldiers of the caliphate in America." … Federal authorities identified the shooter as Omar Mateen, 29, a New York-born resident of Fort Pierce, Fla., who worked for the security firm G4S. … Mateen acknowledged his support for the Islamic State group during a 911 call to local law enforcement from the nightclub, Orlando FBI chief Ron Hopper said. Investigators have yet to determine whether the extremist group had any direct role in the attack.”
Father says he ‘didn’t see anything unusual’
“The father of Omar Mateen, identified by officials as the shooter who killed at least 50 people at an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning, said if he could ask his son one question, it would be: “Why?” In an interview with ABC News at his home in Fort Pierce, Florida, Seddique Mateen said he was shocked and saddened to learn that his only son was the man authorities say is behind the carnage at Pulse nightclub. “I didn’t see anything irregular with him. I saw him yesterday [Saturday] afternoon,” Seddique Mateen said. “It makes me upset, it makes me mad that I didn’t see anything unusual. … I don’t think he was radicalized,” Seddique Mateen said. “That’s what my gut feeling tells me.” ”
Terroism or homophobia
“When the attacker opened fire in the early hours of Sunday morning, it interrupted an evening of drinking, dancing and drag shows at a club known for tolerance for all people. Authorities say suspect Omar Mateen emerged, carrying an AR-15 and fired relentlessly - 20 rounds, 40, then 50 and more. In such tight quarters, the bullets could hardly miss. He shot at police. He took hostages. … Investigators probing gunman Omar Mateen's massacre at least 50 people at a popular gay nightclub in Florida are trying to determine whether terrorism, homophobia or both pushed him over the edge.”
Co-worker says Mateen was “toxic”
“A few key revelations about his (Mateen’s) past came to light hours after the 29-year-old was identified as the shooter who took hostages at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday. … An ex-co-worker told NBC News that Mateen was racist, belligerent and "toxic." .. In 2013, Mateen was interviewed twice by federal agents after co-workers reported that he made "inflammatory" comments to them about radical Islamic propaganda. The following year, the FBI looked at him again because of ties with an American who traveled to the Middle East to become a suicide bomber.”
FBI investigated Mateen
“The gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, died in a shootout with SWAT officers three hours after his rampage began. Mateen, the son of Afghan immigrants, called 911 during the siege, pledging his allegiance to Islamic State and mentioning the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. The FBI had twice investigated Mateen on suspicion of having terrorist ties in 2013 and 2014, yet they could not find conclusive evidence. Mateen was able to legally purchase a handgun and a .223 AR-15-style assault rifle days before the massacre. After the shooting, a statement attributed to Islamic State’s Amaq news agency said the attack “was carried out by an Islamic State fighter.” ”
Father holds anti-American views
“The Orlando gay club gunman's father has well-known anti-American views and is an ideological supporter of the Afghan Taliban. A new message posted by the father on Facebook early Monday morning also makes it clear he could have passed anti-homosexual views onto his son. … In the video posted early Monday, Seddique Mateen says his son was well-educated and respectful to his parents, and that he was "not aware what motivated him to go into a gay club and kill 50 people." The elder Mateen says he was saddened by his son's actions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He then adds: "God will punish those involved in homosexuality," saying it's, "not an issue that humans should deal with."
Former co-worker: Mateen was ‘unhinged and unstable’
The gunman who killed at least 50 people at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday was described by a former colleague as an "unhinged and unstable" person who repeatedly made racist, misogynist and homophobic remarks. Daniel Gilroy, a former police officer, worked as a security officer with G4S Security at the PGA Village complex in Port St. Lucie. …"There was never a moment where he didn't have anger and rage," Gilroy told "The Kelly File". "And he was always loud and cursing. And anytime a female or a black person came by, he would use horrible words."
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