Gunman was ‘cool and calm’

While the bodies of Omar Mateen's victims were removed from Pulse nightclub overnight, investigators worked Monday to determine what motivated the Florida killer responsible for the worst mass shooting in U.S. history -- a man the FBI knew was sympathetic to terrorism and had previously investigated, reports CNN. Mateen was possibly planning to carry out the massacre at the Orlando gay club for a long time. He attempted to buy military-grade body armor from a local store in recent weeks, according to a U.S. official. Personnel at the store refused to sell him what is known as Level III body armor, which offers more protection than the body armor police typically issue to officers. Mateen had also legally purchased a Glock pistol and a long gun, Trevor Velino of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said.
It's not known if those weapons were used in the attack.
The FBI and local law enforcement are examining Mateen's employment history. He worked since 2007 as a security officer at G4S Secure Solutions, one of the world's largest private security companies. The company assigned him to the St. Lucie County Courthouse. CNN's Evan Perez reported that the security company knew the FBI had interviewed Mateen but he passed the company's background check.
The FBI interviewed him in 2013 and 2014 after he expressed sympathy for a suicide bomber, Assistant Special Agent Ronald Hopper said. Hopper said the interviews were "inconclusive," which meant there was no reason to keep them going but did not expound. It remains unclear what, if anything, the interviews covered or why the probes were dropped.
Mateen was not under investigation at the time of Sunday's shooting and was not under surveillance, Hopper said. That means, Hopper said, Mateen could "legally walk into a gun dealership and acquire and purchase firearms."
Earlier officials had said the dead numbered 50 but clarified that they were including the gunman.
The city of Orlando is posting names of the deceased on a website after family members have been notified. The youngest person among those who have been named was Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20.
Survivors told horrific stories of the shooting, which began around 2 a.m. Sunday. One person hiding in the bathroom covered herself with bodies for protection. Some entertainers hid in a dressing room when the shooting started and escaped the building by crawling out when police removed the air conditioning unit.
Mateen initially engaged in a shootout with an officer and then retreated back into the club.
Police tried for hours to negotiate with Mateen, Orlando police Chief John Mina said.
"He was cool and calm when he was making those phone calls to us," Mina said. "We had a team of crisis negotiators that did talk to the suspect just trying to get as much information as possible. ... He really wasn't asking for a whole lot. We were doing most of the asking."
People trapped inside the club desperately called and messaged friends and relatives. Some clubgoers said they thought they were going to die.

 

Gunman was cool and calm

While the bodies of Omar Mateens victims were removed from Pulse nightclub overnight, investigators worked Monday to determine what motivated the Florida killer responsible for the worst mass shooting in U.S. history -- a man the FBI knew was sympathetic to terrorism and had previously investigated, reports CNN. Mateen was possibly planning to carry out the massacre at the Orlando gay club for a long time. He attempted to buy military-grade body armor from a local store in recent weeks, according to a U.S. official. Personnel at the store refused to sell him what is known as Level III body armor, which offers more protection than the body armor police typically issue to officers. Mateen had also legally purchased a Glock pistol and a long gun, Trevor Velino of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. Its not known if those weapons were used in the attack. The FBI and local law enforcement are examining Mateens employment history. He worked since 2007 as a security officer at G4S Secure Solutions, one of the worlds largest private security companies. The company assigned him to the St. Lucie County Courthouse. CNNs Evan Perez reported that the security company knew the FBI had interviewed Mateen but he passed the companys background check. The FBI interviewed him in 2013 and 2014 after he expressed sympathy for a suicide bomber, Assistant Special Agent Ronald Hopper said. Hopper said the interviews were inconclusive, which meant there was no reason to keep them going but did not expound. It remains unclear what, if anything, the interviews covered or why the probes were dropped. Mateen was not under investigation at the time of Sundays shooting and was not under surveillance, Hopper said. That means, Hopper said, Mateen could legally walk into a gun dealership and acquire and purchase firearms. Earlier officials had said the dead numbered 50 but clarified that they were including the gunman. The city of Orlando is posting names of the deceased on a website after family members have been notified. The youngest person among those who have been named was Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20. Survivors told horrific stories of the shooting, which began around 2 a.m. Sunday. One person hiding in the bathroom covered herself with bodies for protection. Some entertainers hid in a dressing room when the shooting started and escaped the building by crawling out when police removed the air conditioning unit. Mateen initially engaged in a shootout with an officer and then retreated back into the club. Police tried for hours to negotiate with Mateen, Orlando police Chief John Mina said. He was cool and calm when he was making those phone calls to us, Mina said. We had a team of crisis negotiators that did talk to the suspect just trying to get as much information as possible. ... He really wasnt asking for a whole lot. We were doing most of the asking. People trapped inside the club desperately called and messaged friends and relatives. Some clubgoers said they thought they were going to die.