ORLANDO, FLORIDA – A well-armed gunman opened fire in a Florida nightclub Sunday morning, killing at least 49 people and injuring scores more in what is being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
The shooter has now been identified as Omar Mateen of Florida.
“Our community experienced a horrific crime today. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement. “Despite the fact that the crime will have a lasting effect, we are a strong community. Thank you to the first responders and hospital staff whose actions have saved many lives.
“We are dealing with something we never imagined. Since the last update, we have gotten better access to the building, cleared the building. It is with great sadness I share that we have 50 casualties, in addition to the shooter. Because of the scale I have called Governor Scott to request a state of emergency and we are issuing a state of emergency in the City. This allows us to bring additional resources to support our efforts.
“Our focus in the coming hours will be identifying the victims and notifying the families. We are setting up a hotline for concerned family members – 407.246.4357. The identification process may take some time. We ask for your patience as we want to be accurate. I continue to be proud of how our community has responded.”
Pulse Orlando, where the shooting took place, left a cryptic Facebook post earlier Sunday, saying “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running”.
Ricardo J. Negron Almodovar said “I was there. Shooter opened fire @ around 2:00am. People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed to go out through the outdoor area and just ran. I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well.”
Governor Rick Scott released a statement on this morning’s shooting in Orlando at Pulse nightclub.
Governor Scott said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and all those affected by this horrific tragedy. We are a strong and resilient state and we will devote every resource available to assist with the shooting in Orlando. Our state emergency operations center is also monitoring this tragic incident. I have been in constant communication with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and state and local law enforcement this morning. I would like to also thank all the first responders who quickly came to assist and help those in need.”
Governor Scott is traveling to Orlando now to meet with law enforcement and local officials.
This is the second deadly shooting in Orlanda within hours.
At about 10:30 p.m. on June 10, Orlando Police responded to a report of a shooting at The Plaza Live. While officers were en route, we received multiple calls from people who had witnessed the shooting or heard gunshots. Officers arrived in approximately two minutes and immediately secured the scene and found that two people had been shot.
Based on police investigation thus far, it appears that the suspect was alone and approached performer Christina Grime (a former “Voice” Contestant) inside the venue after the show – as she was having a meet and greet with fans – and opened fire. Christina Grimmie’s brother, Marcus, tackled the suspect and shortly after that, the suspect shot and killed himself.
Christina Grimmie died from the gunshot wounds she suffered. Her brother Marcus is a hero and possibly saved countless other lives. He is not injured. There were about 120 people in The Plaza Live at the time of the shooting.
The suspect is a 27 year-old white male. He does not live in Orlando. He was armed with two loaded handguns and had additional ammunition on his person, as well as a hunting knife. Detectives are looking at his phone and computer in hopes of identifying a motive.
The Orlando Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the Grimmie family during this heartbreaking time. OPD detectives are meeting with Christina Grimmie’s family members today.
There was private security at the venue at the time of the shooting, but they were not armed law enforcement officers.
Pulse shooting: In hail of gunfire in which suspect was killed, OPD officer was hit. Kevlar helmet saved his life. pic.twitter.com/MAb0jGi7r4
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
Shooter /cia/fbi reading other articles that suggest this ????
In regards to hate crime, listen to the news that is all you hear regarding this crime. Early news reports didn’t mention it, but when it was determined this club caters to lgbtq, everyone jumped on board. My point is this…. All crimes are hate crimes and to tack on harsher sentences to hate crimes is wrong. Treat all crimes the same and quit making some groups of people better than others.
50 infidels is a good start . The mooslem isn’t PC they just do what the koran says. hussein obama will side track you and allow this to continue ! hussein or billary won’t stop it ..
Trump is no better
Yes,he is.
Please tell us oh wise one Lloyd. Just what does the Koran say?
It says you are a Infidel and a loser
If this crime wasn’t committed at this type of club , would it still be a hate crime???? I find it disgusting that only certain groups of people get to have something like this considered a hate crime. It’s all hate and giving that status to a few groups is social injustice!!
Where is it stated that the murders are being prosecuted as hate crimes?
BTW, depending on the facts of any individual case, a victim of a crime whether gay, straight, black, white, female, male, etc., can be considered a victim of a hate crime. Check the DOJ stats on reported hate crimes and you will find all those groups listed at some point as victims of hate crimes.
Guns do not kill, it is the sick people that do the killing. I own 2 guns, and they cannot fire on their own
Exactly. I keep my guns locked up in a gun safe to keep the world safe. I’m sure that being locked up for years in the dark has made them insane. I’m afraid to open the door for fear of what they might do.
I’ve heard that his parents are muslim and live in Iraq, but he was born here. So I guess that makes him an Iraqi American. As recent history has shown us, these people don’t need guns to kill Americans, or anyone else for that matter. Our world is in a sad state.
Afganistan
We could cut mass shootings in the US by 75% if we could ban white males.
Ditto: White males with short penis’s who are trying to be macho.
His parents live in Florida.
Trump needs to be elected. He will get all these imigrants out of our country. And not let anymore in!
He was not an immigrant
His parents are. If they were not here he wouldn’t have been either.
Half the citizens of our country would not be here if their parents were not allowed to be here first. Kind of a week argument isn’t it? Bottom line is he was an American citizen not an immigrant.
That should say weak not week….
It’s sickening that any idiot in our country can own a gun.
do you really think he wouldn’t have gotten a gun elsewhere if he couldnt buy one legally? come on now you cant be that stupid.
This guy had an AA in criminal justice and a firearms license. He was a security guard. He wasn’t just any idiot. He was an educated idiot who was working in the law enforcement realm and was probably quite proficient with firearms as required for his job. He also was an American citizen. What is sad is that he was on the FBI’s watch list a few years ago for statements he had made and they quit watching him. This is on the FBI as far as I am concerned. Once on a watch list for legitimate cause, ALWAYS on a watchlist.