--- description: A gunman opened fire in an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning, killing about 50 people and wounding another 53 people title: What to Know About the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt856076d31c9bac00/69889768cf40a8c915c43965/pulse-shooting-orland_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # What to Know About the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando  by [Julie Shapiro](/author/julie-shapiro/)  ## Julie Shapiro Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 8:20 AM CUTPublished: Jun 12, 2016 1:08 PM CUT  Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Phelan M. Ebenhack—AP  by [Julie Shapiro](/author/julie-shapiro/)  ## Julie Shapiro Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 8:20 AM CUTPublished: Jun 12, 2016 1:08 PM CUT A gunman [opened fire in an Orlando nightclub](http://time.com/4365246/orlando-police-nightclub-shooting "undefined") early Sunday morning, killing 50 people and wounding another 53 in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The FBI says the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Here’s what we know so far: **What happened** A shooter armed with an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire at the crowded Pulse Orlando, a gay nightclub, at about 2 a.m., police said. At one point he left the club and exchanged shots with an officer outside, then he went back in and took hostages, the [Associated Press](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/435dd4b47ec7403888f74e9c5c3480b5/orlando-police-multiple-injuries-after-nightclub-shooting "undefined") reports. A SWAT team went into the club at about 5 a.m. to rescue the hostages, and the shooter was killed in the ensuing gun battle, the AP reports. **The gunman** The shooter has been identified as Omar Mateen, 29, of Port St. Lucie, Florida., authorities said. Mateen had reportedly made calls to 911 early Sunday stating his allegiance to ISIS. He was first flagged on the FBI’s radar in 2013 and then again in 2014, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ron Hopper said at a news conference. Both investigations were closed after inconclusive interviews. The agency interviewed Mateen twice after being alerted to him speaking of possible terrorist ties in 2013 but officials were “unable to verify the substance of his comments.” Mateen came to the FBI’s attention again in the next year over possible ties to an American suicide bomber, Hopper said. The FBI closed that investigation after authorities determined that contact between the two were minimal. Mateen did not pose as a threat at that time, Hopper said. Mateen is a U.S. citizen who was born in New York and later moved to Florida, authorities said. He was not under investigation or surveillance at the time of the Orlando nightclub massacre, according to the FBI. Mateen had legally purchased at least two firearms — a handgun and a long gun — within the last week, the ATF said. A security company, G4S, said Sunday that Mateen had been employed there since 2007, adding that it was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting. “We are cooperating fully with all law enforcement authorities,” the company said. **The victims** Orlando officials released the names of the first four victims late Sunday afternoon. Among those killed were Edward Sotomayor Jr., Stanley Almodovar III, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo and Juan Ramon Guerrero, according to an [official web page](http://www.cityoforlando.net/blog/victims/ "undefined") the city designed to post updates on the deceased. Authorities said 50 people were killed and another 53 were hospitalized. Dr. Michael Cheatham of the Orlando Regional Medical Center said many of the shooting victims are in critical condition. He said those [looking to donate blood](http://time.com/4365295/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-victims-help/ "undefined") can visit local blood banks. “That would be a tremendous help,” he said. ### Scenes From the Tragic Aftermath of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting  Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Phelan M. Ebenhack—AP  Police and forensics investigators work at the crime scene of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Carlo Allegri—Reuters  Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Steve Nesius—Reuters  Police investigate the Pulse nightclub following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Tatiana Osorio cries while giving blood at the OneBlood blood center near the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016\. Osorio lost three friends in the shooting. David Goldman—AP  A memorial honors the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A woman reacts as authorities investigate Pulse following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A reporter pauses at the Hampton Inn where relatives of victims gather for information in Orlando, Fla., on June, 12, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A remembrance for Eric Rivera, killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, sits amongst a makeshift memorial for the victims in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. David Goldman—AP  Mourners attend a makeshift vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Hundreds of people gather at a memorial outside of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. John Taggart—EPA  A memorial honors victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A mourner attends a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Reporters wait to interview relatives of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Seddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, outside his home in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., on June 14, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden depart a makeshift memorial after placing flowers in memory of shooting victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 16, 2016. Carlos Barria—Reuters  Mourners attend a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME **The nightclub** The shooting occurred at [Pulse Orlando](http://www.pulseorlandoclub.com/ "undefined"), which the _Times_ described as one of the biggest gay nightclubs in the Florida city. As the shooting unfolded, the club posted on Facebook, “everyone get out of pulse and keep running.” A couple hours later, the [club wrote on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pulseorlando/posts/10154939355670031 "undefined"): “As soon as we have any information we will update everyone. Please keep everyone in your prayers as we work through this tragic event. Thank you for your thoughts and love.” **The investigation** Authorities descended on the nightclub Sunday to investigate the shooting, and were working to determine a motive, whether the gunman acted as a lone wolf and whether there was any connection to international terrorism. It was not immediately clear why the gunman targeted Pulse Orlando. ISIS has [claimed responsibility](http://time.com/4365507/orlando-shooting-isis-claims-responsibility-terror/ "undefined") for the shooting, saying the attack was “carried out by an Islamic State fighter” in a report on its official Amaq news agency. President Obama [was briefed on the attack Sunday morning ](https://twitter.com/ABC/status/741982933548945409/photo/1 "undefined")and will receive updates as the FBI and other federal and local authorities investigate. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency, as did the city of Orlando. “This is clearly an act of terror,” Scott told reporters at a news conference. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4365260/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-what-know/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4365260/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-what-know/"},"headline":"What to Know About the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando","datePublished":"2016-06-12T13:08:54.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T08:20:11.000Z","description":"50 people were killed and 53 injured in what authorities are investigating as an act of terrorism","url":"https://time.com/4365260/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-what-know/","keywords":["Crime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt856076d31c9bac00/69889768cf40a8c915c43965/pulse-shooting-orland_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julie Shapiro","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/julie-shapiro/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt856076d31c9bac00/69889768cf40a8c915c43965/pulse-shooting-orland_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Pulse Shooting Orlando","caption":"Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.","creditText":"Phelan M. 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