It is an active, ongoing investigation, but officials say that this appears to be an isolated incident. “But right now we can’t say definitively, so we’re still running everything to ground.”Īuthorities said that the shooting is not connected to the murder of Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on “ The Voice,” who was shot Friday night after performing a concert in Orlando. “We do have suggestions that that individual may have leanings toward that particular ideology,” FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Ron Hopper told media outlets. One Orlando police officer was shot during the exchange of gunfire but was likely saved from death by his helmet, officials said. Police said they were looking into reports that the gunman may have had radical Islamist beliefs. As the shooting began, Pulse posted on its Facebook page, “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running.” Police shot and killed the gunman, who used an assault weapon, a handgun, and an unidentified device. ET on Sunday at Pulse, a gay bar, before escalating into a hostage situation that lasted until around 5 a.m.
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The shooting in Orlando began at roughly 2 a.m.
ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB GAY BAR SHOOTING SERIES
In November, a coordinated series of attacks in Paris, including slayings at the packed Bataclan nightclub during a performance by Eagles of Death Metal, left 130 people dead, jolting the world as a brazen act of terror. last December left 14 dead and 21 wounded, while the 2013 killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., left 28 people dead and one injured. A mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. The death toll from the Pulse shootings surpasses the previous high of 33 dead in 2007 when a gunman went on a rampage at Virginia Tech college. Orlando police said the event is unrelated to the murder of Christina Grimmie, the popular Voice singer who was killed while signing autographs after her Orlando show.Mateen was said to have been known to law enforcement officials, but the FBI closed its 20 investigations into his activities when it did not find anything that warranted further investigation.Īccording to NBC News, Mateen had called 911 and pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS just before the attacks. “As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act.” “Woke up to hear the devastating news from FL,” Clinton wrote. before adding, “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?,” Trump tweeted. Praying for all the victims & their families.
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“This is an incident, as I see it, that we certainly classify as domestic terror incident,” said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, according to the Washington Post.ĭonald Trump and Hillary Clinton both reacted to news of the shooting. Agents said that the suspect “may have leanings toward extreme ideologies.” Police said that the suspect was not from the Orlando area and was “organized and well-prepared,” the Times reports. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting local authorities handling the incident, the Orlando Sentinel reports. “We weren’t aware of any action he is taking. “We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident,” he said. Mateen’s father apologized on behalf of his family. NBC News reports that Mateen called 911 before entering the club and “pledged allegiance to ISIS,” though authorities have not found any direct link between Mateen and the terrorist group. In front of my son they are doing that.’ And then we were in the men’s bathroom and men were kissing each other.” “They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, ‘Look at that.
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And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry,” Mir Seddique, told NBC News. Mateen’s motive remains unclear, but his father says it may have been triggered by anti-gay sentiments. “We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music.