Orlando night club shooting update

Orlando shooting: FBI questions members of gunman's mosque, dig up school records

Academic records obtained by Reuters showing Mateen was frequently suspended as a student — at least twice for fighting before he was transferred to a special high school for potential drop-outs — added to a disturbing portrait of the gunman who committed the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

The 29-year-old private security guard, who was shot dead by police at the end of the June 12 massacre, has been described by his first wife — whom he divorced after a brief marriage — as an abusive, mentally disturbed man with a violent temper.

Orlando nightclub gunman visited gay chat rooms

Investigators don't know whether he visited the chat rooms for personal reasons or for surveillance before carrying out the brutal attack early Sunday at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others.

Days after the attack -- the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history -- sources revealed he not only visited gay chat rooms, he also frequented the same nightclub he would eventually terrorize.

A former colleague has said Mateen constantly made homophobic, sexist and racist remarks.

Why men kissed in response to Orlando killings

"We were in downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music. And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid, and he got very angry," Seddique Mir Mateen told NBC News. His son Omar, the man behind the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, killed 49 and injured at least as many at gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Orlando gunman's wife, Noor Salman, 'may face charges'

Prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Noor Salman, wife of gunman Omar Mateen, sources quoted by Fox News and Reuters say.

She is reported to have told police she tried to talk her husband out of attacking the Pulse nightclub.

The attack in Florida was the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

Fifty-three people were wounded and six remain in a critical condition.

Orlando shooting: Gunman Omar Mateen shot dead as he fled through hole in wall

US authorities are investigating whether anyone helped Mateen to massacre 49 people at Orlando's Pulse gay nightclub, but say they do not believe anyone connected to the shooting posed a current danger to the public.

The rampage began about 2:00am on Sunday (local time) as the club was packed with some 350 people. Many fled as the gunman raked the crowd with bullets from an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle and a pistol.

An initial wave of officers charged into the club and trapped Mateen in a bathroom, Orlando Police Chief John Mina told reporters.

Orlando shooting sparks Facebook Safety Check for first time in US

The Safety Check, first introduced in October 2014, allows Facebook users to spread the word that they are safe in the wake of a natural disaster or a crisis, and allows searches for those who might be in the affected area.

"Waking up this morning, I was horrified to hear about the shooting in Orlando," Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on his official account.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBT community."

Orlando gay nightclub shooting 'act of terror and hate' - Obama

Americans were united in grief, outrage and "resolve to defend our people", he said.

Omar Mateen, 29, killed 50 people and wounded 53 at the Pulse club before being shot dead by police.

The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear.

A statement on its affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS "fighter" was responsible.

NBC News reported that Mateen had called the emergency services before the attack and swore allegiance to IS.

Celebs react to Orlando Nightclub Attack

At least 50 people were killed and at least 50 others were wounded when a male gunman opened fire inside the crowded gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando Saturday night. A frightening message was posted on the venue's Facebook page that night. It read: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." The shooter was killed by police.