A shooting rampage at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday left “approximately 50” people dead, including a gunman, Police Chief John Mina said.
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The killing of 50 people has made this shooting named the deadliest mass shooting in usa history. He said around 42 injured were taken to area hospitals.
The suspect, 29, who was killed by police, is from Fort Pierce, Florida, the officials said.
The suspect has been tentatively identified as Omar Mateen, two law enforcement officials tell NPR’s Carrie Johnson. One officer sustained an injury to the head in the exchange and was saved by his helmet. Police said Mateen used an assault weapon in the attack.
CNN reported he was employed as a private security guard for a major Florida firm that was sometimes used by the us government.
Mateen’s father told NBC news that about two months ago in Miami, his son had seen two men kissing and became outraged at the sight.
However, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks said authorities were also investigating whether worldwide terror was involved, and if the shooter was a lone wolf.
The White House said President Obama was getting updates on the case from Homeland Security. A massive investigation is now underway, with assistance from the FBI.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott spoke at a news conference this afternoon and asserted that “this is clearly an act of terror” and added that he has declared a state of emergency in Orange County, Florida.
Emotional witnesses and family members of those who were in the club surrounded the area after shots rang out.
Chief of Police Mina said the shooter was armed with an assault-type rifle, a handgun and a suspicious device.
Orlando police bomb squad arrived at the scene to search the area and remove any “devices” similar to the one worn by the gunman that may have been placed inside the club. She saw her son Christopher’s friend post on Facebook that there had been a shooting at the club and that he didn’t “know where his friends were”.
“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.
He estimated more than 100 people were still inside when he heard shots, got on the ground and crawled toward a DJ booth. Many of them were able to flee the scene but there were some who took refuge in the bathrooms and were held hostage as the extensive gunfight took place in the club.
Orlando Police did not immediately provide further details on the department’s official Twitter account on Sunday.
During the rescue and shootout, officers with the SWAT team – using an armored vehicle – entered the club and hurried people to safety. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene.
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Just after the shooting, Pulse Orlando’s posted a note to its own page that said, “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running”. 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.
