Mateen, 29, of Port St. Lucie in Florida, reportedly laughed as he sprayed bullets into the crowded club before he was shot dead by a SWAT team several hours after launching his horrific massacre with a legally bought assault rifle and pistol.
Hero officers used a 'controlled explosion' to distract the shooter before fatally shooting him and were able to rescue about 30 hostages who were hiding in the bathroom of the club. During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet (pictured)
Caught on film: The dramatic moment a police swat team abseil in to save a suicidal man from jumping to his death
Although US officials do not know if the attack was directed by ISIS, Mateen was inspired by the terror group and has been investigated by the FBI twice over his suspected terror links. He also attended the same Mosque as an American suicide bomber, Daily Mail reports.
ISIS’s Amaq news agency said the terror group was responsible for the shooting and says Mateen was one of its fighters.
WHAT HAPPENED IN BRIEF:
US citizen Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire inside Pulse night club in Orlando
Shooting happened inside gay club in the early hours of Sunday morning
Mateen, from Port St Lucie, Florida, killed at least 50 people and injured 53
He was shot dead by authorities three hours after shooting began
Mateen was a 'known quantity' to the FBI and was investigated twice before the mass shooting in 2013 and 2014
Photos inside and outside of Pulse night club show the devastation left behind
Omar Mateen, 29, of Port St. Lucie in Florida, pledged allegiance to ISIS before opening fire early on Sunday
He reportedly laughed as she sprayed bullets into the crowded club, which had more than 300 people inside
Eight victims have been identified by the city of Orlando on its website, which is working to notify family members
They are: Edward Sotomayor, Stanley Almodovar, Luis Ocasio-Capo, Juan Guerrero, Eric Ortiz-Rivera, Peter Gonzalez-Cruz, Luis Vielma and Kimberly Morris
Donald Trump called for President Barack Obama to resign after he did not blame radical Islam for the attack in his remarks following the shooting, referring to it instead as an 'act of terror' and an 'act of hate.'
Shortly after making the 911 call himself, Mateen entered the crowded nightclub at around 2am carrying an AR-15 and started spraying the helpless crowd with bullets.
Witnesses said he fired relentlessly - 20 rounds, 40, then 50 and more. In such tight quarters, the bullets could hardly miss. He shot at police. He took hostages. Around 5am, authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue them, Police Chief John Mina said.
The shooter exchanged gunfire with 14 police officers at the club, which had more than 300 people inside.
"Members of the SWAT team detonated a controlled explosion to confuse Mateen and then nine officers exchange gunfire with terrorist - shooting him dead. SWAT officers manage to free 30 hostages who dashed to safety. 5:35am - Orlando police confirm that the shooter is dead. 8:00am - Officials with the FBI deem the incident to be 'domestic terrorism'. 9:40am - The shooter was officially identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie. 10:20am - At a press conference Mayor Buddy Dyer makes the announcement that 50 people have died and 53 injured in what is now the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States. 11.54am - US Senator Bill Nelson and California congressman Adam Schiff claimed Mateen had pledged his allegiance to ISIS"
'He had an automatic rifle, so nobody stood a chance,' said Jackie Smith, who had two friends next to her get shot. 'I just tried to get out of there.'
ORLANDO SHOOTINGS TIMELINE
2:02am - Sunday, June 12 - Suspect Omar Mateen tries to enter Pulse nightclub armed with assault rifle and and handgun and is spotted by a uniformed officer.
The two exchange fire outside the club - but Mateen manages to enter the nightclub holding 320 people while still firing.
The shooting then developed in a hostage situation.
2:09am - Pulse nightclub posts a message to their Facebook desperately telling those inside 'Everyone get out of pulse and keep running'.
5.05am - Three hours after the first shooting began, a SWAT team rushed inside to rescue hostages and confront Mateen.
Mateen opened fire at Pulse night club, killing at least 50 people before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. There were around 320 people inside the club at the time of the shootings and about 100 people were taken hostage.
At least 53 people were hospitalized, most in critical condition, officials said. A surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center said the death toll was likely to climb.
Authorities were investigating the attack on the Florida dance club as an act of terrorism. The shooter called 911 shortly before the attack and referenced ISIS, FBI agent Ronald Hopper said.
He was stopped by hero officers, who used a 'controlled explosion' to distract Mateen before fatally shooting him and rescuing about 30 hostages who were hiding in the bathroom of the club. During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet.
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