Following the early morning shootout at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., police and other officials offer additional details.
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CBS News reported shortly afterward that the gunman’s name was Omar Saddiqui Mateen, quoting unnamed law enforcement sources.
The gunman, now confirmed as Omar Mateen, entered near closing time when there were approximately 320 people still in the club.
Police Chief John Mina also said the shooter had some sort of “suspicious device”.
Pulse Orlando posted on its Facebook page around 2:00 a.m. EDT June 12, “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running”.
Mateen was shot and killed by responding officers inside the nightclub.
One officer was among those injured, but police officials said the injuries did not appear to be serious.
About three hours after the shooting first broke out, police shot and killed the suspect during actions to rescue the hostages, said Mina.
NBC reports that the incident is being reported as an act of terrorism.
“It is with great sadness I share that we have 50 casualties, in addition to the shooter”, Mayor Dyer said. An FBI agent told the press the mass murder is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
Mina said that the shooter used an AR15 assault-type rifle and a handgun to shoot the victims.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said at a press conference Sunday that a state of emergency has been declared after what authorities have indicated may have been a “lone wolf” style terror attack. The FBI has joined the investigation and bomb squads are searching the area for explosive devices similar to one worn by the gunman.
Many other victims could be seen being carried or walked to the nearby Orlando Regional Medical Center, which was placed on lockdown.
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USA media had reported that between seven and 20 people had been injured and that the suspected shooter may have been carrying a bomb. Late Friday a man thought to be a deranged fan fatally shot Christina Grimmie, a rising singing star and a former contestant on “The Voice”, while she was signing autographs after a concert in the Florida city.
