A gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun took hostages and opened fire inside a crowded Florida gay nightclub, killing approximately 50 people and wounding 53 others before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said on Sunday.
Latest updates:
20: 30: A state of emergency has been declared across the city of Orlando, Mayor Dyer says, to allow law enforcement officials to focus on the investigation.
20: 12 pm: Still determining whether the shooting was a hate crime or a terrorist act or a violent crime: FBI
20: 10 pm: This is one of the worst mass shootings in US history: Police Chief John Mina
Chief Mina speaking at press conference >pic.twitter.com/BYpMRoEp2d
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) >June 12, 2016
20: 02: Fifty dead, 53 injured in Florida mass shooting: Orlando Mayor
19: 15 pm: Shooter named as Omar Mateen, US citizen of Afghan descent: TV networks
18: 50 pm: President Barack Obama briefed by counter-terrorism aide on Orlando shooting: White House
17: 15 pm: Florida nightclub shooter was armed with assault-type rifle, handgun, some type of device: Police Chief
17: 05 pm: There is no indication that this shooting is related to the one on Friday, where singer Christina Grimmie was shot dead, police says.
17: 00 pm: Orlando shooting suspect may have 'leanings' to Islamic extremism: FBI
16: 50 pm: "About 20 people were killed," he added.
16: 45 pm: Nine officers were involved in shooting the suspect, Police Chief says.
16: 45 pm: Orlando Police begin briefing on the incident. "Multiple people’ dead inside Florida nightclub; at least 42 wounded taken to hospitals," Police Chief John Mina says.
. >@ChiefJohnMina multiple people dead inside the club. Many casualties transported to hospitals. >pic.twitter.com/0Lf69tClad
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) >June 12, 2016
15:30 pm: The gunman behind the attack is dead, police said, describing the scene as a "mass casualty situation."
Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) >June 12, 2016
A post on the department’s official Twitter account early Sunday morning said “multiple injuries” have been reported following the incident at the Pulse Orlando nightclub near Orange and Kaley avenue. The department also advises people to “stay away from area.”
Multiple emergency vehicles have reportedly responded, including the Orlando Fire Department’s bomb squad and hazardous material team.
Pulse Orlando’s earlier posted on its own Facebook page- “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running.”
The incident follows the fatal shooting on Friday of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie, who was killed after her concert in Orlando by a 27-year-old Florida man who later killed himself. Grimmie was a YouTube sensation and former contestant on “The Voice.”
