The gunman who killed 50 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida pledged allegiance to the Islamic State before the mass shooting. The Orlando Police have confirmed that 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen has been identified as the gunman in the shooting. Police shot and killed Mateen on the scene. CNN reports that according to a US official, Mateen had called 911 and talked about the Islamic State shortly before the shooting. Assistant Special Agent Ronald Hooper told reporters that the F.B.I had investigated Mateen twice, in both 2013 and 2014 but the interviews were inconclusive and there was nothing to keep the investigation going”. Mateen was not under surveillance or under investigation at the time of the shooting. At approximately 2am local time, Mateen walked into the Pulse nightclub with an assault rifle and a pistol and opened fire. Following a three hour standoff with Police, The Orlando Police Department say Mateen had legally purchased firearms in Florida within the last week although it is unclear whether either of these firearms were used in the shooting. The worst mass shooting in the history of the United States, President Obama says this shooting is “an act of terror and hate”.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 13th June 2016 - 9:01am