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His first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, suggested in an interview with Time magazine, with little evidence other than his penchant for bodybuilding and mirror-gazing, that Omar Mateen could have been gay. Which leaves another question: How could the Pulse attack be a hate crime against gay people if the perpetrator chose it randomly? In their closing statement, government prosecutors admitted that there was no evidence to suggest that Mateen knew that Pulse was a gay club.
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"And hatred towards people because of sexual orientation, regardless of where it comes from, is a betrayal of what’s best in us.”Ī few days earlier, presidential candidate Donald Trump said at a rally, “A radical Islamic terrorist targeted the nightclub, not only because he wanted to kill Americans, but in order to execute gay and lesbian citizens, because of their sexual orientation.”īut during the trial of Omar Mateen’s widow, Noor Salman, all forensic evidence suggested that up until the moment he turned into the Pulse parking lot, Mateen had been considering other venues, rejecting them because they were more heavily guarded. “This was an attack on the LGBT community,” the president said.
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Update 6/12, 1:00 p.m.: Both U.S.Four days after the attack, on June 16, 2016, President Barack Obama visited survivors in Orlando and delivered a statement. The site is crashing currently, but please keep trying. To find a donation center or Big Red Bus near you visit or call 1.888.9Donate. "There is an urgent need for O Negative, O Positive and AB Plasma blood donors following a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida," OneBlood said in a news release. "Dozens of people have been injured and taken to area hospitals. Update 6/12, 12:08 p.m.: The Orlando Sentinelreports there is an urgent need for blood donations in the area. We are in shock like the whole country."Īlthough, presumably, he is not speaking from any position of knowledge of Mateen's plans. We weren't aware of any action he is taking. "We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. "This has nothing to do with religion," he said. Update 6/12, 11:15 a.m.: Mateen's father, Mir Seddique, spoke with NBC News , arguing that his son's actions were not motivated by religious hatred. When asked if the gunman had connections to radical Islamic terrorism, FBI Special Agent in Charge Ron Hopper said, "We do have suggestions that individual has leanings towards that." Authorities say there's no indication of future attacks in Florida or elsewhere in the United States, however, and believe Mateen was acting as a "lone wolf" shooter. White House statements on the "heinous attack" on Pulse nightclub in Orlando /khohfe6BOC- Asawin Suebsaeng June 12, 2016 The White House issued a statement, offering condolences and saying that both the president and vice president have asked to receive regular updates on the situation. "Tonight our community witnessed or experienced a very horrific crime," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement. history.Īpproximately 53 injured people were taken to area hospitals, including Orlando Health, which now has a family information center. Sunday, Orlando city officials have confirmed more than 50 people have died, making this the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. Mina said police have not determined an exact number of casualties, but as of 11 a.m.
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"Many were saved by the heroic efforts of the men and women of the OPD, the Orange County Sheriffs, Seminal County Sheriff's office," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in a press conference. There was then a "tense" shoot-out, during which a bullet struck an officer's Kevlar helmet, which Orlando Police Chief John Mina believes saved the officer's life. Mateen was shot dead just by the SWAT team before 6 a.m. on Sunday during the club's popular Latin Saturday event. He was carrying an assault rifle, a handgun, and was reportedly wearing an explosive device. Police say the suspect exchanged gunfire with an officer working at the club,then went inside where he continued shooting and took a large number of hostages - over 300 people were in attendance at the club.Īt around 5 a.m., a SWAT team used a "controlled explosion" to distract the shooter, allowing them to rescue hostages. Lucie entered Orlando's Pulse nightclub at 2 a.m. The Orlando Sentinel reports that 29-year-old Omar Mateen of Port St. Florida officials say a gunman opened fire and later took hostages inside a packed gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning, killing "at least" 50 people and injuring many others before dying in a firefight with SWAT officers.