Orlando Shooting Becomes Worst in U.S. History

Orlando Shooting Becomes Worst in U.S. History

Key Developments

  • The gunman has been identified as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen of Fort Pierce, Florida. He was born a U.S. citizen in New York to parents from Afghanistan.
  • The shooter pledged allegiance to ISIS in a phone call to 911.
  • 49 people, including Mateen, are deceased as a result of the shooting. As many as 50 injured are at local hospitals around the Orlando area. Twenty-seven people remain hospitalized as of June 14. Six remain "critically ill" and 5 are in "guarded" condition.
  • The gunman was recognized as someone who had been to the nightclub before. Officials believe he had been scouting out the location, as he was "calm and well-organized."
  • Officials believe the suspect had been scouting out Disney World as a possible location to attack, as well.
  • On June 15, the FBI called the attack both a hate crime and terrorism.
  • Investigators are focusing on the suspect's phone for clues as to the motive of the shooting.
  • The gunman's ex-wife is being investigated as it has been previously reported that she may have known about the attack before it happened.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, gunshots rang out inside a popular nightclub in Orlando, Florida. When the sun would rise, we would see the details of what is now being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

An American-man, later identified as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, entered the night club with an assault rifle and a pistol at about 2 a.m. and started shooting killed 49 people and wounding at least 53 others, Orlando officials said.

After the initial gunshots were fired, Mateen was confronted by an off duty officer and was taken outside the club where he fired more rounds to get away from the officer and ran back inside the club.

People were trapped inside the club during a three hour standoff as Orlando Police and the FBI worked to negotiate with the shooter. Finally, police crashed into the building with an armored vehicle and stun grenades in an effort to distract the shooter and rescue people from the building.

Nine officers entered the club following the distractions and the shootout that ensued resulted in the death of Mateen. Only one officer was hurt, with injuries to the face when his Kevlar helmet met a bullet from the gunman.

Following the mass shooting, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Orange County.

It has been determined that Mateen had been interviewed by the FBI in 2013 and 2014 in terror-related cases, but both cases were closed. Mateen was able to purchase both the firearms he used in the shooting legally.

Police are investigating to see if Mateen worked under the influence of ISIS or if the attack was ISIS inspired. During the attack, Mateen called 911 to pledge his allegiance to ISIS, mentioning the Boston Bombers on the call.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.