ISIS nut massacres dozens during Orlando LGBT nightclub shooting
- 8 years ago
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Officials are releasing more details about the worst case of gun violence in U.S. history. The information shows a clearer picture of how the gunman shot dozens of people to death at an LGBT nightclub in Florida on Sunday.
Omar Mateen began firing at a police officer outside Pulse nightclub at around 2:02 a.m, the Wall Street Journal reported. Additional officers joined the gunfight and Mateen fled inside to one of the restrooms where he had between five and eight hostages. Up to 25 people were in the adjacent bathroom.
At around 2:28 a.m. Mateen pledged allegiance to Islamic State during a call with a 911 dispatcher, the Wall Street Journal reported. The 29-year-old also falsely told authorities he had accomplices and explosives inside the Pulse nightclub, the New York Times reported, citing Chief John Mina of the Orlando Police Department.
According to the New York Times, a SWAT team and armored vehicle later arrived at the scene. Messages from hostages prompted officials to begin a rescue operation out of fear that more killing will take place, the Wall Street Journal reported.
At around 5:00 a.m., officers attempted free hostages by breaching the restroom wall with an explosive device but the blast didn’t create a big enough hole. They then rammed the wall with an armored vehicle and created a sizeable gap through which hostages were able to flee.
Mateen then began another gunbattle with officers, and was soon killed.
Authorities say 50 people, including the gunman, were killed in the shooting, while 43 victims remain in hospital.
Omar Mateen began firing at a police officer outside Pulse nightclub at around 2:02 a.m, the Wall Street Journal reported. Additional officers joined the gunfight and Mateen fled inside to one of the restrooms where he had between five and eight hostages. Up to 25 people were in the adjacent bathroom.
At around 2:28 a.m. Mateen pledged allegiance to Islamic State during a call with a 911 dispatcher, the Wall Street Journal reported. The 29-year-old also falsely told authorities he had accomplices and explosives inside the Pulse nightclub, the New York Times reported, citing Chief John Mina of the Orlando Police Department.
According to the New York Times, a SWAT team and armored vehicle later arrived at the scene. Messages from hostages prompted officials to begin a rescue operation out of fear that more killing will take place, the Wall Street Journal reported.
At around 5:00 a.m., officers attempted free hostages by breaching the restroom wall with an explosive device but the blast didn’t create a big enough hole. They then rammed the wall with an armored vehicle and created a sizeable gap through which hostages were able to flee.
Mateen then began another gunbattle with officers, and was soon killed.
Authorities say 50 people, including the gunman, were killed in the shooting, while 43 victims remain in hospital.