Box Turtle Bulletin

Who Is Omar Mateen?

The Hill reports:

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility Sunday for a deadly nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., that left 50 dead and 53 injured. “The attack that targeted a nightclub for homosexuals in Orlando, Florida and that left more than 100 dead and wounded was carried out by an Islamic State fighter,” ISIS said in a statement. The organization offered no proof for the attacks.

ISIS’ claim of responsibility came several hours after news of the attack hit the news. It’s important to remember that authorities have not established a connection between the Orlando shooter Omar Mateen and ISIS. Friends, family, and an ex-wife all say he was not particularly religious. Co-workers at the security company he worked for called the FBI in 2013 after he made comments about terrorist connections, but the FBI investigation found no basis for concern. The FBI investigated in 2014 over potential ties with someone who became an Al-Quida suicide bomber in Syria. That investigation was inconclusive.

The FBI did put him on a watch list, but that alone was not enough to prevent Mateen to purchase an AR-15. Congress refused to close that loophole last December. ATF says that Mateen legally purchased his weapons in the last week. Shortly before attacking Pulse, Mateen called 911 and pledged his allegiance to ISIS. According to NBC News:

Investigators are trying to determine whether religious extremism motivated the attack and piece together what exactly set off Mateen, who lived less than two hours south of Orlando in Port St. Lucie and worked as a security guard.

Mateen didn’t appear to have any direct ties with ISIS, sources told NBCNews, although he was a follower of ISIS propaganda and referenced the Tsarnaev brothers, who carried out the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, at the scene of the shooting.

Based on what we know so far, the most immediate reason why Mateen chose this particular target and these particular people appears to be what Mateen saw in Miami:

Because of his name and heritage, there were immediate questions about Mateen’s possible ties to Islamic fundamentalism. But his father told NBC News that his son was affected by a recent incident involving two men showing each other affection.

“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,” Mateen’s father, Mir Seddique, told NBC News on Sunday. “They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, ‘Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.’ And then we were in the men’s bathroom and men were kissing each other.”

“We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident,” Seddique said. “We weren’t aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country.”

Seddique added: “This had nothing to do with religion.”

Mateen’s ex-wife describes him as being very violent:

“He was not a stable person,” said the ex-wife, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared for her safety in the wake of the mass shooting. “He beat me. He would just come home and start beating me up because the laundry wasn’t finished or something like that.”

…“He seemed like a normal human being,” she said, adding that when they were married he wasn’t very religious and often worked out at the gym. She said in the few months they were married he gave no signs of having fallen under the sway of radical Islam. She said he owned a small-caliber handgun.

Reports: Orlando Blood Donations Being Accepted from ALL Doners

There’s an arbitrary FDA ban on blood donations for gay men who have had sex in the past year. It appears that the ban has been lifted, at least temporarily in Orlando. U.S. Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) released this statement at 12:30 am EST Sunday:

“Due to the critical need for blood donations in Orlando, ALL blood donations will be accepted and screened. Nobody will be turned away because of their sexual orientation. O Positive and O Negative blood types are needed most urgently. Please make appointments to donate throughout the week as there will be a continued need.”

HIV Plus magazine noticed earlier that local hospitals appear to be accepting blood from all comers.

Update: Others are suggesting that the blood banks are accepting donations, but are probably using the application forms to screen out those who answer the gay-and-had-sex question to dispose of that donation.

President: “This Was an Act of Terror and an Act of Hate”

Here is a transcript of President Barack Obama’s remarks on today’s massacre:

Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder — a horrific massacre — of dozens of innocent people.  We pray for their families, who are grasping for answers with broken hearts.  We stand with the people of Orlando, who have endured a terrible attack on their city.  Although it’s still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate.  And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people.

I just finished a meeting with FBI Director Comey and my homeland security and national security advisors.  The FBI is on the scene and leading the investigation, in partnership with local law enforcement.  I’ve directed that the full resources of the federal government be made available for this investigation.

We are still learning all the facts.  This is an open investigation.  We’ve reached no definitive judgment on the precise motivations of the killer.  The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terrorism.  And I’ve directed that we must spare no effort to determine what — if any — inspiration or association this killer may have had with terrorist groups.  What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred.  Over the coming days, we’ll uncover why and how this happened, and we will go wherever the facts lead us.

This morning I spoke with my good friend, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and I conveyed the condolences of the entire American people.  This could have been any one of our communities.  So I told Mayor Dyer that whatever help he and the people of Orlando need — they are going to get it.  As a country, we will be there for the people of Orlando today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.

We also express our profound gratitude to all the police and first responders who rushed into harm’s way.  Their courage and professionalism saved lives, and kept the carnage from being even worse.  It’s the kind of sacrifice that our law enforcement professionals make every single day for all of us, and we can never thank them enough.

This is an especially heartbreaking day for all our friends — our fellow Americans — who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing, and to live.  The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub — it is a place of solidarity and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights.

So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American — regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation — is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country.  And no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us Americans.

Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history.  The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle.  This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub.  And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be.  And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.

In the coming hours and days, we’ll learn about the victims of this tragedy.  Their names.  Their faces.  Who they were.  The joy that they brought to families and to friends, and the difference that they made in this world.  Say a prayer for them and say a prayer for their families — that God give them the strength to bear the unbearable.  And that He give us all the strength to be there for them, and the strength and courage to change.  We need to demonstrate that we are defined more — as a country — by the way they lived their lives than by the hate of the man who took them from us.

As we go together, we will draw inspiration from heroic and selfless acts — friends who helped friends, took care of each other and saved lives.  In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another.  We will not give in to fear or turn against each other.  Instead, we will stand united, as Americans, to protect our people, and defend our nation, and to take action against those who threaten us.

May God bless the Americans we lost this morning.  May He comfort their families.  May God continue to watch over this country that we love.  Thank you.

Vigils To Be Held Around the Country

I’m sure I’ve missed quite a few, but here is the list that I have so far. I’ll post updates as I find them. You can also check a new web site, We Are Orlando, is also tracking vigils.

Do you have any photos? Please send them here.

Albany, NY: 8 p.m. at Rocks.

Allentown, PA: 6 p.m. at Candida’s Bar.

Ann Arbor, MI: 8:30 p.m. at Aut Bar.

Anchorage, AK: 5:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (616 W. 10th Avenue, Anchorage)

Albuquerque, NM: 7:30 p.m. at Morningside Park.

Atlanta, GA:

• 8:45 p.m. at TEN Atlanta.
• Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Aspen, CO: at 8:00 p.m. in Paepcke Park.

Augusta, GA: 8 p.m. at MCC of Our Redeemer.

Austin, TX: 7:30 p.m. on Fourth Street.

Bainbridge Island, WA: 8 p.m. at Winslow Way and 305.

Baltimore, MD:

• 8 p.m. at the Washington Monument.
• Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Ynot Lot.

Belton, TX: 8:30 p.m. at the Bell County Courthouse.

Berea, KY: Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Union Church Berea.

Beverly, MA: 7:30 at Beverly Common.

Billings, MT: 8 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church.

Bisbee, AZ: 7 p.m. at Grassy Park next to the Mining Museum.

Bloomington, IN: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Boston, MA:

• 6 p.m. at Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common.
• 8 p.m. at Trinity Church.

Bozeman, MT: 9 p.m. at the Gallatin County Courthouse.

Bremerton, WA: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Evergreen Park.

Buffalo, NY: Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Niagara Square.

Burlington, VT: Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Society.

Butte, MT: 8 p.m. at the county courthouse steps.

Castro Valley, CA: 7 p.m. at the Safeway parking lot.

Cedar Rapids, IA: 7:30 p.m. at Belle’s Basix.

Charleston, SC: Tomorrow at 7 p.m., downtown Charleston (location TBD).

Charlotte, NC:

• 6 p.m. at the Charlotte Pride office.
• 9 p.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

Chattanooga, TN: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Chuck’s II.

Chicago, IL: 7 p.m. at Halsted and Roscoe.

Clarksville, TN: 7 p.m. at Riverside Drive Park.

Dallas, TX: 8 p.m. at the Resource Center on Cedar Springs.

Denton, TX: 5 p.m. at the Denton County Courthouse Square.

Denver, CO: 8:30 p.m. at Tracks.

Dillon, MT: 8 p.m. at St. James Church.

Eureka Springs, AR: 8 p.m. at Basin Park.

Fairbanks, AK: 8 p.m. at Golden Heart Plaza.

Farmington, NM: Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at Orchard Park.

Fayetteville, AK: 8:15 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Ferndale, MI: 8 p.m. at Ferndale City Hall.

Fitchburg, MA: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Upper Common.

Flint, MI: Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Wilson Park.

Fort Smith, AR: 8 p.m. at Kinkead’s.

Fresno, CA: 7 p.m. at the Fresno LGBT Community Center.

Gainesville, FL: 8 p.m. at Ayers Medical Plaza.

Grand Junction, CO: 8 p.m. at Charlie Dwellington’s.

Great Falls, MT: 8 p.m. at the New Federal Courthouse.

Greensboro, NC:

• 7:30 p.m. at Government Plaza.
• Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at Q-Bar.

Greenville, NC: Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at Five Points Plaza.

Greenville, SC: 8 p.m. at Greenville Falls Park.

Guerneville, CA: 10 p.m. at the Main Street Bistro & Piano Bar.

Harlingen, TX: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Valley AIDS Council.

Helena, MT: 8 p.m. on the Capitol Steps.

Honolulu, HI:

• 5 p.m. at Honolulu Hale.
• 7 30 p.m. at Magic Island Beach Park.

Houston, TX: 8 p.m. at Hermann Park.

Indianapolis, IN: 6 p.m. at the Egyptian Room.

Jacksonville, FL: 7 p.m. at Memorial Park.

Jamaica Plain, MA: 5 p.m. at the Monument.

Jersey City, NJ: Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Newark Ave. Pedestrian Plaza.

Johnson City, TN: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Founder’s Park.

Kansas City, MO: 6:30 p.m. at Barney Allis Plaza.

Kingston, NY: 9 p.m. at Wall St and N. Front Street.

LaCrosse, WI: 6 p.m. at the Seven Rivers LGBTQ Connection.

Lafayette, IN: Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at Congress Street UMC.

Lakeland, FL: Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Mirror.

Lancaster, PA: 7 p.m. at Penn Square.

Lansing, MI: 6 p.m. at the State Capitol.

Las Cruces, NM: 7 p.m. at Pioneer Women’s Park.

Las Vegas, NV: 7 p.m. at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.

Lexington, KY: 8:30 p.m. at Triangle Park.

Lincoln, NE:

• 8:30 at the Nebraska State Capitol.
• Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Nebraska Union Plaza.

Long Beach, CA: 7:30 in Harvey Milk Park.

Long Island, NY: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Bay Shore.

Los Angeles, CA: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Los Angeles City Hall.

Louisville, KY: 8 p.m. candlelight vigil on both the Louisville and Jeffersonville sides of the Big Four Bridge.

Memphis, TN: 8:30 at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center.

Mexico City: 8 p.m. in front of the U.S. Embassy.

Milford, PA: 6:p.m. at the Upper Delaware LGBT Center.

Minneapolis, MN: 7 p.m. at Loring Park.

Missoula, MT: 8 p.m. on the Oval.

Nashville, TN:

• 6 p.m. at Out Central.
• 9 p.m. at Nashville Public Square.

Nevada City, CA: Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Robinson Plaza.

New Hope, PA: 8:30 on the Delaware.

New York, NY:

• 6 p.m. at Stonewall Park, 7th Ave. and Christopher St.
• 8 p.m. at the Stonewall Inn.
• 8 p.m. at Union Square.
• 7:30 p.m. at Diversity Plaza, 37th Rd, btwn 73rd & 74th Sts. in Jackson Heights, Queens. This vigil is jointly hosted by LGBT and Muslim community leaders.
• 8 p.m. at the Staten Island Borough Hall.
• Tomorrow, 6 p.m. at the Stonewall Inn.

Norfolk, VA: Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at the LGBT Center of Hampton Roads.

Norristown, PA: Tuesday at 7:30 at the Reformed Church of the Ascension UCC.

Northampton, MA: Wednesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Oakland, CA: 8 p.m. at Oscar Grant Plaza.

Oceanside, CA: 5 p.m. at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.

Oklahoma City, OK: 7 p.m. at Freedom Oklahoma.

Omaha, NE: 8 p.m. at Dundee-Memorial Park.

Orlando, FL:

• 6 p.m. at Christ Church of Orlando, for first responders and workers.
• 6:30 p.m., the Experience Christian Center, Jones High School.
• 7 p.m. at Ember.
• 8 p.m. at the Baitul-Aafiyat Mosque.
• Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Lake Eola Park.
• Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m. at the UCF Reflection Pond.

Palm Springs, CA: 6:30 p.m. at Arenas Rd.

Pensacola, FL: tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Seville Square.

Philadelphia, PA: Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Philadelphia City Hall.

Pittsburgh, PA: 8 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Phoenix, AZ:

• 7 p.m. at Phoenix Pride LGBT Center.
• 7 p.m. at Arizona Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project.

Porterville, CA: 8 p.m. at Centennial Park.

Portland, OR:

• 7 p.m. at NW Couch and NW Broadway.
• 8:15 p.m. at Salmon Street Springs.

Raleigh, NC: 8 p.m. at the Legends Night Club complex.

Reno, NV: 7 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center.

Rochester, NY:

• 8 p.m. at Open Arms MCC.
• Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Bachelor Forum.

Salem, MA: 6:30 at Riley Plaza.

Salt Lake City, UT: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake City and County Building.

San Juan, PR: 7 p.m. at Centro Comunitario LGBTT de PR.

Sarasota, FL: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the Harvey Milk Festival, Five Points Park.

St. Louis, MO: 8:30 at the Triangle at Sarah St, Manchester Ave, and Cheauteau Ave.

San Diego, CA:

• 7 p.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag.
• Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the SD LGBT Community Center.

San Francisco, CA: 8 p.m. at Harvey Milk Plaza.

San Jose, CA: 5 p.m. at the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center.

Santa Barbara, CA: 7:30 at De La Guerra Park.

Santa Cruz, CA: 1 p.m. at the Town Clock.

Santa Fe, NM: Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Santa Fe Plaza.

Seattle, WA: 8 p.m. at Cal Anderson Park.

Syracuse, NY: 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Tacoma, WA: 8 p.m. at Tollefson Plaza.

Tallahassee, FL: 7:30 at Lake Ella Park.

Tucson, AZ: 8 p.m. at Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.

Tulsa, OK: 8:#0 p.m. at Club Majestic.

Visalia, CA: 7 p.m. at the Source LGBT+ Center.

Walnut Creek, CA: tomorrow at 6:30 at Club 1220.

Washington, DC:

• 8 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol.
• 10 p.m. at Dupont Circle.

West Hollywood, CA: 6 p.m. at Santa Monica Blvd and Holloway Drive near the fountain.

Wichita, KS: 7 p.m. at Pine Valley Christian Church.

Wilmington, NC: 7:30 at Costello’s Piano Bar.

Wilton Manors, FL: 5 p.m. at the Pride Center.

Winston-Salem, NC: 7 p.m. at Parkway UCC.

Worcester, MA: 7 p.m. at MB Lounge.

Reports: Shooter Pledged Allegiance to ISIS

Both CNN and NBC are reporting that shortly before the shooting, Omar Mateen called 911 and claimed allegiance to ISIS.

Council On American-Islamic Relations React

We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured. The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any gropu that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence.

— Rasha Mubarak, the Orlando regional coordinator for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Blood Donors Needed In Orlando, But Many Gay Men Can’t Donate

If this doesn’t beat all:

The need for blood after a shooting at a gay nightclub resurfaced complaints on social media about limits on gay men’s ability to donate blood. In December, the Food and Drug Administration lifted a lifetime ban for gay men, but continued to prohibit men from donating if they had had sex with men in the past year.

Equality Florida Reacts

This is a press release sent out by Equality Florida:

We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2am capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 50 people dead and over 50 injured according to preliminary reports.

We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country.

Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.

We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.

Plans are underway for the following. More details to come.

* The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida is now open and offering grief counseling to those affected by the Pulse Orlando massacre. They are encouraging anyone who needs help and support to please come to the center.
Address: 946 N Mills Ave Orlando, Florida 32803
Phone Number: (407) 228-8272
Website: http://www.thecenterorlando.org/

*For anyone needing support today, you may call the Zebra Coalition hotline at (407) 228-1446 to speak to a counselor.

* OneBlood, the local blood bank in Orlando, has posted an EMERGENCY need for O-, O+, and AB Plasma in the light of last night’s tragedy. If any of you have a chance today to go donate blood or plasma PLEASE DO. You could very well save someone’s life. To find a donation center or Big Red Bus near you visit www.oneblood.org or call 1.888.9Donate.

First Unitarian Church
1901 East Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32803
now through 1 PM

Weingarten Realty
2566 E Colonial Drive
>12 pm-6 pm

Orlando Donor Center
8669 Commodity Circle
now til 1 o’clock

West Orlando Donor Center
345 W Michigan St Suite 106
now til 2 o’clock

* A vigil tomorrow pending clearance from police. To receive updates on the vigil with details as we receive them, sign up here: http://www.eqfl.org/pulse_vigil

* A GoFundMe account has been set up to help raise funds for the victims and families of the horrific Orlando Pulse Nighclub Shooting: https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

Early Reactions

From CNN:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement. “The President asked to receive regular updates as the FBI, and other federal officials, work with the Orlando Police to gather more information, and directed that the federal government provide any assistance necessary to pursue the investigation and support the community.”

Lisa Monaco, Obama’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser, briefed the President, Earnest said. He said Obama asked for regular updates as federal and state officials investigate the shooting, which killed 50 people and wounded at least 53 others.

Vice President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the shooting and canceled a planned trip to Miami, Florida, to attend a fundraiser for Democratic National Committee chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Biden “offered his prayers for all those killed and injured in the shooting and sends his condolences to all the families and loved ones of the victims,” according to a statement from his spokesman.

Other reactions came in via Twitter

Woke up to hear the devastating news from FL. As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 12, 2016

Really bad shooting in Orlando. Police investigating possible terrorism. Many people dead and wounded.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016

My prayers are with the victims’ families & all those affected by the shooting in Orlando. We will devote every resource available to assist

— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) June 12, 2016

By the way, Rick Scott has spent the about five minutes talking about this on TV without mentioning the word “gay” once. Good job Rick!

Our prayers are with those injured and killed early this morning in horrifying act of terror in Orlando.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 12, 2016

That last one is from Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, whose account tweeted that out hours after the shooting started. The time stamp at precisely 5:00 a.m. suggests it was a previously scheduled tweet. It has since been deleted in the past half hour (sometime after 10:20 a.m. Central Time)

“Mommy I Love You”

From the LA Times:

Witnesses said they heard at least 40 shots fired, and one witness said the shooting lasted the length of an entire song. As bullets tore through the crowd, men and women took cover by dropping to the floor and crawling for cover. Some apparently hid in the restrooms, including one man whose texts to his mother were broadcast over WFTV-TV:

“Mommy I love you”

“In club they shooting”

“He’s coming”

“I’m gonna die”

“He’s in the bathroom with us”

The fate of the young man, who was not identified by the station, was not immediately known. Just after the shooting, Pulse Orlando posted a note to its Web page that said, “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running.”

DEVELOPING: At Least 50 Dead, 53 Injured In Orlando Gay Night Club Massacre

It is being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history since the 1921 Greenwood Massacre in Tulsa. These are the basic facts. Shooting broke out shortly after 2:00 a.m. in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.  A police officer was working in the club and exchanged fire with the gunman, identified as Omar Mateen, 29, from Ft. Pierce. Mateen then took about thirty hostages until about 5.00 a.m. when a SWAT team came in to free the hostages. Mateen was killed in the massive barrage of gunfire during the shootout.

The club was packed with about 320 people. As the shooting started, some mistook the gunfire as part of the music, similar to what happened during the first few seconds of the Bataclan theater massacre in Paris. As the tragedy unfolded, the city of Orlando ran out of ambulances to take the injured to hospitals. Some were transported by pickup trucks. Around 2 a.m., Pulse Orlando posted an urgent message on Facebook: “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running.”

Reports about Mateen himself and his possible motives are conflicting right now. His parents are from Afghanistan, but he may have been born in the U.S. He was a U.S. citizen, and worked as a security guard in Ft. Pierce. His father told NBC News that the motive was not religious, but that Mateen became angry two weeks ago when he saw two men kissing in Miami. One report says that Mateen had a license to carry guns. It’s not known whether the guns used in this massacre, which included an AR-15, were legal. Reports also say that police are including a possible terror motive as part of their investigation. Police say that Mateen was “previously known” to law enforcement, but say that he was not under active investigation as of last night. NBC reports that Mateen was in a database as a person of interest, not necessarily as part of a direct investigation but for the potential of  what NBC described as “peripheral associations.”

The L.A. Times put this in context:

Now no other American mass shooting comes close to the lives lost in Orlando on Sunday morning. Not at Columbine High School in Colorado, where 13 people died in 1999; nor in Newtown, Conn., where 26 people were killed in 2012; nor at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were killed in 2007.