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28 March 2024

Orlando Massacre: 50 dead, 53 injured... what was his target?

Published
By Agencies

Fifty people died when a heavily-armed gunman opened fire and seized hostages at a popular nightclub in Orlando, Florida -- the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Here is what we know so far:

Who was the gunman?

Law enforcement identified the gunman, who died in a shootout with police, as Omar Mateen, 29.
A US citizen, Mateen was born to Afghan parents living in New York and resided in Port St Lucie, Florida, about two hours' drive from Orlando.
The FBI said Mateen had previously been investigated -- and cleared -- by the agency for suspected ties to an American suicide bomber and after making inflammatory terror-related comments to coworkers.
But Mateen apparently made a 911 call pledging allegiance to IS before Sunday's massacre.
Law enforcement recovered a handgun, an AR-15 assault rifle and an unknown number of additional rounds from the suspect.
Mateen sprayed the club with bullets and took hostages in a three-hour standoff that ended when authorities stormed the venue.

What was his target?

Pulse is a popular club known on the Orlando LGBT party scene for its drag shows. It is not known exactly how many people were inside at the time of the attack, but it was packed with Saturday night revelers who came to watch a drag queen contest.
The nightclub was co-founded by a woman whose brother died in 1991 after battling HIV.
In 2004, Barbara Poma and a friend opened the club to keep her brother's spirit alive, and named it in honor of his heartbeat.
It has become a flagship establishment for the LGBT community in Florida and further afield and forms part of a vibrant activist scene.

What was his motive?

US President Barack Obama called the massacre "an act of terror and an act of hate."
The suspect's father told NBC News his son may have been motivated by homophobia and not by his Muslim faith.
Mir Seddique recalled a recent incident in downtown Miami when his son became angry after witnessing a gay couple embracing.
The suspect's ex-wife, who divorced him in 2011, told the Washington Post he had been violently abusive to her and was not especially religious.
The Pulse attack coincided with gay pride month in the United States, with festive marches and events being held all over the country including in Orlando last week.

Who are the victims?

Authorities aren't publicly identifying victims until their families have been notified.
As of Sunday evening, seven names have been released. All were men, ranging in age from 20 to 36.
Pulse was hosting a Latin-themed party at the time of the shooting. Based on their names, all of the victims identified appeared to be of Hispanic heritage.

The City of Orlando has released names and ages of victims of the nightclub shooting whose next of kin have been contacted. The list will be periodically updated on www.cityoforlando.net/blog/victims/ as those who died are identified and families and loved ones notified. The city gave no additional information other than the names.

—Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
—Stanley Almodovar III, 23
—Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
—Juan Ramon Guerroro, 22
— Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
— Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
— Luis S. Vielma, 22
— Kimberly Morris, 37
—Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
—Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
—Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
—Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
—Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25
—Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
—Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Other threats?

On Sunday, police in the Los Angeles area arrested a man who said he wanted to "harm" the city's Gay Pride parade and was found with multiple weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials in his car.
However, there was no known connection between 20-year-old James Howell and Mateen, authorities said.

Fifty people died and another 53 were injured when a gunman opened fire and seized hostages at a gay nightclub in Florida, police said Sunday, making it the worst mass shooting in US history.

"We have cleared the building, and it is with great sadness that I share we have not 20 but 50 casualties in addition to the shooter," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told a news briefing, raising the death toll from 20 previously.

"There are another 53 that are hospitalized."

Earlier, officials estimated that 20 people were killed at a nightclub after a heavily armed gunman seized hostages early Sunday, prompting a police Swat team to storm the venue.

"Unfortunately there are people who died from gunshot wounds, maybe around 20, inside the night club," FBI special agent Ron Harper told a media briefing.

He said around 42 injured were taken to three area hospitals.

"This did turn into a hostage situation," Orlando police chief John Mina said. "At approximately 0500 hours (0900 GMT) this morning, the decision was made to rescue hostages that were in there."

It was unclear whether all the victims were killed by the gunman or if some died in the ensuing shootout with police.