Pulse nightclub shooting
![]() | This article documents a recent mass shooting. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2016) |
2016 Orlando nightclub shooting | |
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Location of Orlando within the U.S. state of Florida | |
Location | 1912 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
Coordinates | 28°31′10″N 81°22′37″W / 28.519364°N 81.376815°W |
Date | June 12, 2016 2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) |
Attack type | Mass shooting Mass murder Hostage taking |
Deaths | ~50 (including the perpetrator)[1][2] |
Injured | ~53 |
Perpetrator | Omar Mir Seddique Mateen[3] |
On June 12, 2016, at least 50 were killed and 53 wounded[4] in a shooting attack at Pulse, a gay bar, dance club and nightclub[5] in Orlando, Florida. The gunman was identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, an American citizen of Afghan descent.[3] Law enforcement officials are treating the case as an act of domestic terrorism.[6]
The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.[7][4][6][8]
Incident
Pulse posted on its Facebook page around 2:00 a.m. EDT June 12, "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." Soon, after around 2:02 a.m. EDT, shots were heard and an Orlando Police Department (OPD) officer stationed at the night club thereafter engaged the gunman and returned fire. The gunman was armed with an assault rifle, a handgun, and a "device" that officials believed was another threat. After additional officers engaged the suspect, the gunman retreated into the nightclub and began to take patrons hostage.[9][10]
A crisis negotiator was then sent to the scene,[11] as the gunman was holed up inside and holding hostages.[12]Cite error: The <ref>
tag has too many names (see the help page). The shooter claimed to have an explosive device.[13][14] Police said that a bomb squad had set off a controlled explosion.[11]
Around 5 a.m. EDT, SWAT officers entered the nightclub and exchanged gunfire with the perpetrator.[1] Thirty hostages were freed, one officer received a non-lethal shot to his head and was hospitalized,[15] and the OPD confirmed that the shooter was dead.[16][17][18] Reuters reported that it was unknown when the gunman shot the victims.[12]
Investigation
Officers from several agencies and dozens of emergency vehicles responded to the scene.[11] Orlando Police Chief John Mina called the shooting an act of "lone wolf" domestic terrorism. Ron Hopper of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the investigation, said his agency isn't ruling the possibility out.[19] Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said, "This is an incident, as I see it, that we certainly classify as domestic terror incident."[16] When asked about Islamism, Hopper replied, "We do have suggestions that that individual might have leanings towards that particular ideology."[16] Mina said the gunman was organized, well prepared, and not from the local area.[20] The FBI set up a hotline for callers with information on the shooting. While no terrorist group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting, "a social messaging account linked to the Islamic State gloated about the attack."[21]
Mina reported that a handgun and an "AR-15-type assault rifle," along with additional rounds, were recovered from the dead gunman.[22]
Victims
At least 50 people so far have been confirmed killed and 53 people were seriously wounded in the shooting. Many are in critical condition undergoing surgery in local hospitals.[23]
Perpetrator
Omar Mateen | |
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File:Omar Mateen.png Mugshot of Mateen | |
Born | Omar Mir Seddique Mateen November 16, 1986 |
Died | June 12, 2016 Orlando, Florida, U.S. | (aged 29)
Cause of death | Gunshot |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Security guard[24] |
Details | |
Date | June 12, 2016 c. 2:00 am – c. 5:00 am |
Location(s) | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
Killed | ≈ 50 |
Injured | ≈ 53 |
Omar Mir Seddique Mateen (November 16, 1986 – June 12, 2016) lived in Fort Pierce, Florida,[25] about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Orlando. Mateen was born in New York to Afghan parents.[26][27] He reportedly had a degree from Indian River State College.[28] He married Uzbekistan-born Sitora Alisherzoda Yusufiy in April 2009, and was divorced in July 2011.[29][28][30] Mateen had reportedly bragged about ties to "terrorist organizations" in the past, and became a person of interest to the FBI in 2013 and 2014. An investigation on Mateen was also opened prior to the attack, but ended up closing as it produced nothing that appeared to warrant further investigation.[31][32]
Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic ranking member of the House Intelligence committee, stated that Mateen had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).[33]
Mateen's father said he had seen his son get angry after seeing a gay couple kissing months prior to the attack.[34]
Reactions
The White House released a statement sending their condolences to the victims. President Barack Obama directed the federal government to provide any assistance necessary to "pursue the investigation and support the community".[27][35]
Florida Governor Rick Scott released a statement of support for all affected, and noted that the state emergency operations center is monitoring the incident.[36]
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency for the city and asked Scott to declare one for Florida.[16]
Many people lined up to donate blood at local blood donation centers and bloodmobile locations after OneBlood urged people to donate.[37][38] The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Central Florida provided grief counseling for survivors.[21]
See also
- List of terrorist incidents, January–June 2016
- UpStairs Lounge arson attack
- Violence against LGBT people
References
- ^ a b Goldman, Adam; Holley, Peter; Berman, Mark (June 12, 2016). "Orlando nightclub shooting: 50 killed in 'domestic terror incident' at gay club; gunman identified". Washington Post.
- ^ Barbaba Liston. "Fifty people killed in massacre at Florida gay nightclub: police". Reuters.
- ^ a b "Orlando gunman identified as Omar Mateen". BNO News. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b CNN, Ashley Fantz, Faith Karimi and Eliott C. McLaughlin. "Police: 50 killed in Florida nightclub terror attack". cnn.com. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Lyons, Kate (June 12, 2016). "Orlando Pulse club attack: gunman behind shooting that killed 50 'named as Omar Mateen'". the Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ Lois Beckett, Orlando nightclub attack is deadliest US mass shooting in modern history, The Guardian (June 12, 2016).
- ^ "Gunman's 'terror attack' on gay nightclub leaves 50 dead". The Independent. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Islamic terrorism tie eyed in Orlando gay bar shooting". Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "At Least 50 Dead in Orlando Gay Club Shooting, Suspect Identified, Officials Say". ABC News. June 12, 2016.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b c "50 dead in nightclub, worst mass shooting in U.S. history". USA Today. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|authors=
ignored (help) - ^ a b Barbara Liston. "Fifty people killed in massacre at Florida gay nightclub: police". Reuters. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Police: 50 killed in Florida nightclub terror attack". CNN. June 12, 2016.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|authors=
ignored (help) - ^ Zappone, Chris (June 12, 2016). "Orlando, Florida gay nightclub shooting: multiple victims". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ Kate Lyons (June 12, 2016). "Orlando Pulse club attack: gunman behind shooting that killed 50 'named as Omar Mateen'". The Guardian. New York. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Orlando nightclub shooting: Live reporting". BBC News. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|authors=
ignored (help) - ^ Lyons, Kate (June 12, 2016). "Orlando nightclub shooting: police confirm 'mass casualties' and gunman dead". The Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Shooting at gay nightclub in Orlando results in 'mass casualties'". Orlando Sentinel. June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting: About 20 dead in act of terrorism, police say". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=
(help) - ^ "Orlando nightclub shooting: police say up to 20 dead in terrorist incident". The Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Alvarez, Lizzie; Kenny, Steve (June 12, 2016). "50 Dead in Shooting at Gay Nightclub in Orlando; Possible Terror Link". The New York Times.
- ^ Assault Rifle Is Among Weapons Used in Attack, New York Times (June 12, 2016).
- ^ "Orlando Nightclub Attack: What We Know". The Atlantic. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Orlando nightclub shooting: Omar Mateen was gunman, officials say". CNN. June 12, 2016.
- ^ Yuhas, Alan (June 12, 2016). "Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – rolling updates". The Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ 50 killed in shooting at Orlando nightclub, Mayor says - Fox News. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b "CBS News: Gunman In Orlando Nightclub Shooting That Left Nearly 20 Dead Identified As Omar Mateen". CBS New York. Associated Press / CBS New York. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Jones, Elliott (June 12, 2016). "Who is Omar Mateen?". Treasure Coast Newspapers.
- ^ "Orlando shooting suspect married, divorced within 2 years". Evansville Courier & Press. June 12, 2016.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Hunter, Matt; Stanton, Jenny; Lambiet, Jose (June 12, 2016). "PICTURED: Worst mass shooter in U.S. history - NYC-born 'Islamic extremist' Omar Mateen, 29, who shot dead 50 and injured 53 in Orlando gay club massacre was homophobe 'who got angry when he saw two men kissing'". Daily Mail.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida". The Australian. June 12, 2016.
The FBI has described the shooting as "an act of terrorism" and say they suspect the shooter had ties to radical Islam.
- ^ "Omar Mateen, Terrorist Who Attacked Orlando Gay Club, Had Been Investigated by FBI". The Daily Beast. June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Gunman suspected of killing 50 people has 'some connection to ISIS'". Business Insider. June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Orlando Nightclub Shooting: Mass Casualties After Gunman Opens Fire in Gay Club". NBC News. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Statement by the Press Secretary". WhiteHouse.gov. June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Gov. Scott: We Will Devote Every Resource Available to Assist with Orlando Shooting".
- ^ Sentinel, Orlando. "Blood donors needed after mass shooting in Orlando".
- ^ "Urgent Need For Blood After Mass Shooting". OneBlood.
External links
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- Current events from June 2016
- 2016 in Florida
- 2016 in LGBT history
- 2016 mass shootings in the United States
- 2016 murders in the United States
- 21st century in Orlando, Florida
- Attacks on nightclubs
- Crimes in Florida
- Deaths by firearm in Florida
- LGBT history in Florida
- Mass murder in 2016
- Massacres in 2016
- Massacres in the United States
- Murder in Florida
- Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2016
- Terrorist incidents in Florida
- Violence against LGBT people