Omar Mateen#Shooting and death

Mateen was born Omar Mir Seddique{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/terror-hate-what-motivated-orlando-nightclub-shooter-n590496 |title=Gunman Omar Mateen Described as Belligerent, Racist and 'Toxic' |publisher=NBC News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |first1=Pete |last1=Williams |first2=Tracy |last2=Connor |first3=Erik |last3=Ortiz |first4=Stephanie |last4=Gosk |quote=Records also show that he had filed a petition for a name change in 2006 from Omar Mir Seddique to Omar Mir Seddique Mateen.}} at Long Island Jewish Medical Center{{cite web |url=http://cbs12.com/news/local/omar-mateen-had-behavioral-issues-in-school-records-show |title=Omar Mateen had behavioral issues in school, records show |publisher=CBS12 |date=June 17, 2016 |author=Detman, Gary}}{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/learn-mateen-tactical-rabbit-robert-knauer-cppo-cpcm |title=LEARN ABOUT MATEEN BY TACTICAL RABBIT |publisher=LinkedIn |date=June 26, 2016 |author=Knauer, Robert}} in New Hyde Park, New York, to Afghan parents. His father, Mir Seddique Mateen, is from Herat and emigrated from Afghanistan in the 1980s{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/49-killed-in-shooting-at-florida-nightclub-in-possible-act-of-islamic-terror |title=50 killed in shooting at Orlando nightclub, Mayor says |date=June 12, 2016 |work=Fox News Channel |access-date=June 12, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/12/orlando-nightclub-shooting |title=CBS News: ISIS Claims Responsibility For Orlando Nightclub Attack That Left 50 Dead |date=June 12, 2016 |website=CBS New York |publisher=Associated Press/CBS New York |access-date=June 12, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the-orlando-shooters-afghan-roots/2016/06/13/d89a8cd0-30e4-11e6-ab9d-1da2b0f24f93_story.html |title=Orlando suspect's father hosted a TV show and now pretends to be Afghanistan's president |first=Max |last=Bearak |date=June 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 12, 2016}} and became a naturalized US citizen on November 17, 1989. Seddique Mateen was a secret informant for the FBI at times between January 2005 and June 2016.

{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Pete |last2=Ortiz |first2=Erik |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pulse-gunman-s-father-was-secret-fbi-informant-court-filing-n860116 |title=No mistrial after revelation that Pulse nightclub gunman's father was secret FBI informant |date=March 27, 2018 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326212125/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pulse-gunman-s-father-was-secret-fbi-informant-court-filing-n860116 |archive-date=March 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}

Seddique Mateen also owns a non-profit company named The Durand Jirga, Inc. based in Port St. Lucie, Florida, which was founded in 2010 where he hosted a political commentary show{{cite web |url=http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/mir-seddique-omar-mateen-father-son-afghanistan-orlando-mass-shooting-family-reaction/ |title=Mir Seddique, Omar Mateen's Father: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |publisher=Heavy |date=June 12, 2016 |author=Dzikowski, Jennifer}} that aired on the California-based Payam-e-Afghan television channel,{{Cite web |last=Mezzofiore |first=Gianluca |date=June 13, 2016 |title=Orlando gunman's father railed against Afghan president in political show |url=https://mashable.com/article/seddique-mateen-omar-orlando-shooting |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=Mashable |language=en}} in which he expressed anti-Pakistan views.{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2016 |title=Father of Orlando shooter hosted political show on Afghan-Pakistan issues |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-shooting-father-idUSKCN0YY109 |access-date=October 5, 2022}} His mother, Shahla Mateen, was taken into custody after she allegedly attacked her husband while he was brushing his teeth on the night of December 7, 2002.{{cite web |url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2016/06/orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-mother-shahla-mateen-domestic-violence-arrest-mugshot/ |title=Locked Up! The Proof Of Orlando Shooter's Dark Family Past Exposed |author=Montero, Noelani |date=June 13, 2016 |publisher=Radar Online}} Both of his parents first settled in New York, having four children, including Omar.{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-omar-mateen-family-details-20160619-story.html |title=Eccentricity, violence at home may have helped shape Orlando shooter Omar Mateen |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date=June 18, 2016 |author=Clary, Mike}} After being raised in New York for a few years, he moved with his family to Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1991.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/before-orlando-massacre-killer-omar-mateen-visited-parents-one-last-time/2281507/ |title=Before Orlando massacre, killer Omar Mateen visited parents one last time |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |first1=Ben |last1=Montgomery |first2=Samuel |last2=Howard |first3=Michael |last3=LaForgia}} His family was described as being moderate Muslims and "all-American."

{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kevin |last2=Wan |first2=William |title=Troubled. Quiet. Macho. Angry. The volatile life of the Orlando shooter. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/troubled-quiet-macho-angry-the-volatile-life-of-omar-mateen/2016/06/17/15229250-34a6-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html |access-date=June 18, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618014638/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/troubled-quiet-macho-angry-the-volatile-life-of-omar-mateen/2016/06/17/15229250-34a6-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}

At a young age, Mateen displayed a preoccupation with violence, the Associated Press and The Washington Post reported. For his elementary and middle school education, he attended classes in St. Lucie County, Florida. While at Mariposa Elementary School, a third grade teacher wrote that Mateen was "very active ... constantly moving, verbally abusive, rude, aggressive ... much talk about violence & sex ... hands all over the place – on other children, in his mouth." In the seventh grade, Mateen was moved to a separate class with the purpose of avoiding "conflicts with other students" and suffered from poor scholarly performance due to "many instances of behavioral problems."

{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Mitch |last2=Bynum |first2=Russ |title=Records: Orlando gunman talked about violence in 3rd grade |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/apnewsbreak-woman-says-nightclub-shooter-stalked-her/ |access-date=June 17, 2016 |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617165414/http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/apnewsbreak-woman-says-nightclub-shooter-stalked-her/ |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |url-status=live}}

A classmate at Mariposa said that Mateen was a bully, disrespectful to girls and acted like he was better than his classmates. Another classmate reported that Mateen was bullied at school because of his weight and his Afghan heritage. His parents were described as "dismissive" of his poor behavior while his father "had a reputation for being disrespectful of female teachers and dismissive of complaints about his son." In 1999, while Mateen was in the eighth grade, his teacher sent a letter to his father regarding an "attitude and inability to show self-control."

Mateen began his secondary education at Martin County High School in 2000, and at the age of 14 was expelled after being in a fight in math class, where he was briefly arrested without being handcuffed and charged with battery and disrupting school, though the charges were later dropped.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-shooting-gunman-idUSKCN0YY11B |title=Gunman in worst U.S. massacre described as 'quiet' but grew hateful |work=Reuters |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |first=Zachary |last=Fagenson}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-arrested-teen-fight-records-show-n593971 |title=Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen Arrested as Teen for Fight, Records Show |publisher=NBC News |date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |first1=Stephanie |last1=Gosk |first2=Tom |last2=Winter |first3=Tracy |last3=Connor}} While a sophomore attending Spectrum, an alternative high school for students with behavioral issues, classmates told The Washington Post that Mateen cheered in support of the hijackers during the September 11 attacks and stated that Osama bin Laden was his uncle who taught him how to shoot AK-47s.

After his outburst, Mateen's father arrived at the school to pick him up and slapped him in the face, with Mateen later being suspended for five days after the incident. Soon after the September 11 attacks, "he shocked other students on his school bus by imitating an exploding plane," reported The New York Times.{{cite news |title='Always Agitated. Always Mad': Omar Mateen, According to Those Who Knew Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |access-date=June 19, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2016 |quote=was Omar Mateen betraying his latent extremist sympathies — or was he just being tone-deaf — when, at 14, he shocked other students on his school bus by imitating an exploding plane so soon after the Sept. 11 attacks? 'He got on, walked up the first couple of steps, held his arms out and made sounds like a motor and then made an explosion sound — and slipped into his seat', Robert Zirkle, another student on the bus, remembered. 'He did this three or four times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619033803/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |archive-date=June 19, 2016 |url-status=live |last1=Barry |first1=Dan |last2=Kovaleski |first2=Serge F. |last3=Blinder |first3=Alan |last4=Mashal |first4=Mujib }}

A retired Martin County High School dean, Dan Alley, said the school personnel "tried to counsel him and show him the error of his ways, but it never had the effect that we were hoping for" and that his father "would not back up the school, and he would always take his son's side." Mateen was later sent to St. Lucie West Centennial High School after getting into a fight with another student.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/06/13/on-911-omar-mateens-classmates-mourned-some-say-he-celebrated/ |title=On 9/11, the Orlando shooter's classmates mourned. Some say he celebrated. |date=June 13, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=Murphy |first2=Brian |last1=Wan |first1=William |access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-orlando-nightclub-shooting-omar-mateen-20160612-story.html |title=Omar Mateen: Father, security guard, 'dorky' in school |last2=Inman |first2=Jessica |date=June 13, 2016 |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=June 13, 2016 |first1=Rene |last1=Stutzman}}{{cite web |first1=Gal Tziperman |last1=Lotan |first2=Paul |last2=Brinkmann |first3=Rene |last3=Stutzman |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-orlando-nightclub-omar-mateen-profile-20160613-story.html |title=Gunman Omar Mateen visited gay nightclub a dozen times before shooting, witness says |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613215920/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-orlando-nightclub-omar-mateen-profile-20160613-story.html |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Brady |url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/orlando-shooter-born-in-new-hyde-park/article_58b20180-31a0-11e6-b7e9-3b100612b0fb.html |title=Orlando shooter born in New Hyde Park |work=Queens Chronicle |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/details-emerge-orlando-nightclub-shooter-omar-mateen/story?id=39891550 |title=New Details Emerge About Orlando Nightclub Shooter Omar Mateen |work=ABC News |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |first=Julia |last=Jacobo}} By the time, Mateen had returned and graduated from Martin County's Stuart Adult Vocational School in 2003, he had been suspended for 48 days for being involved in fights and injuring other students.

Mateen attended Indian River State College's Criminal Justice Training program and in a questionnaire, he admitted to committing or being involved in a crime that went undetected, but did not provide specific details. He went on to earn an Associate of Science degree in criminal justice technology from the college in 2006.{{cite news |url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/crime/st-lucie-county/who-is-omar-mateen-35140633-45ca-1fbf-e053-0100007fbd3e-382613281.html |title=Who is Omar Mateen? |last=Jones |first=Elliott |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=Treasure Coast Newspapers |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613113858/http://www.tcpalm.com/news/crime/st-lucie-county/who-is-omar-mateen-35140633-45ca-1fbf-e053-0100007fbd3e-382613281.html |url-status=dead }} He worked in a number of local stores and restaurants while attending school.

In October 2006, Mateen began working as a recruit for the Florida Department of Corrections, being assigned to the Martin Correctional Institution. In a letter explaining his juvenile record as part of his successful application, Mateen explained the incident of when he was arrested at school when he was fourteen. He also wrote that he had experimented with marijuana as a young teenager. Following the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007, Mateen suggested in a corrections officer training class that he would bring a gun to class. P.H. Skipper, who was the warden at the institution, wrote that "in light of the tragic events at Virginia Tech officer Mateen's inquiry about bringing a weapon to class is at best extremely disturbing." Days later on April 27, 2007, Mateen "was involuntarily dismissed" from the program and never became a certified corrections officer.

{{cite news |last1=Connor |first1=Tracy |last2=Winter |first2=Tom |title=Orlando Gunman Talked About Bringing Gun to Training Class in 2007 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-talked-about-bringing-gun-training-class-n594786 |access-date=June 18, 2016 |publisher=NBC News |date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618011327/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-talked-about-bringing-gun-training-class-n594786 |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/omar-mateen-what-we-know-about-orlando-nightclub-shooter/2281484/ |title=Omar Mateen: What we know, don't know about Orlando nightclub shooter |date=June 13, 2016 |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=June 14, 2016}}

Mateen then worked for British-based security firm G4S Secure Solutions in Jupiter, Florida, from September 2007 until his death.{{cite news |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/fort-pierce-apartment-building-evacuated-has-ties-/nrfFf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612233449/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/fort-pierce-apartment-building-evacuated-has-ties-/nrfFf/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2016 |title=Vero Beach bomber tied to Mateen posted anti-gay video on Facebook |date=June 12, 2016 |work=The Palm Beach Post |last2=Morgan |first2=Matt |last3=Mower |first3=Lawrence |last4=Stapleton |first4=Christine |first1=Pat |last1=Beall |access-date=December 21, 2016}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/vero-beach-bomber-tied-mateen-posted-anti-gay-video-facebook/KZ9zXxKFAC0nKTkm3ApXhM/ |title=A G4S Secure Solutions (USA) Inc. Publication |date=Fall 2012 |publisher=g4s.com |page=10 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016235344/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/vero-beach-bomber-tied-mateen-posted-anti-gay-video-facebook/KZ9zXxKFAC0nKTkm3ApXhM/ |archive-date=October 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/omar-mateen-suspected-orlando-night-club-shooter/story?id=39790797 |title=What We Know About Omar Mateen, Suspected Orlando Nightclub Shooter |last1=Katersky |first1=Aaron |last2=Meek |first2=James Gordon |date=June 12, 2016 |last3=Margolin |first3=Josh |last4=Hayden |first4=Michael Edison |work=ABC News |access-date=June 14, 2016}}

In 2010, Mateen, while working for G4S, was interviewed for and appears in The Big Fix, the 2012 documentary about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1712088/documentary-footage-shows-omar-mateen-in-2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616171416/http://news.sky.com/story/1712088/documentary-footage-shows-omar-mateen-in-2010|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2016 |title=Documentary Footage Shows Omar Mateen In 2010 |publisher=Sky News |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Mauney |first1=Matt |title=2012 documentary shows Omar Mateen working security during BP oil spill |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-omar-mateen-security-oil-spill-story.html |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616050914/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-omar-mateen-security-oil-spill-story.html |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |url-status=live}} Mateen said of those working on the cleanup: "Nobody gives a shit here. Everybody's just, get out to get paid. They're like hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have jobs. They want more disaster to happen."{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-in-bp-documentary-big-fix/|title=Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen Was in BP Oil Spill Documentary (Video)|first=Reid|last=Nakamura|date=June 15, 2016}}

G4S said two screenings of Mateen—one conducted upon hiring and the other in 2013—had raised no red flags.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/orlando-shooter-employer-g4s-saw-no-red-flags-1465817844 |title=Orlando Nightclub Shooting Puts G4S in Spotlight Again: U.K.-based security giant that employed Omar Mateen said its vetting had raised no red flags |last=Woo |first=Stu |date=June 13, 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=June 14, 2016}}

Under Florida state law, for him to work as an armed guard the company was required either to make a full psychiatric evaluation of Mateen, or to administer a "validated written psychological test."{{cite web |url=http://www.securityinfowatch.com/news/12225644/orlando-shooting-sharpens-scrutiny-on-screening-of-security-guards-in-florida |title=Orlando shooting sharpens scrutiny on screening of security guards in Florida |author=David Ovalle |publisher=McClatchy/Security Info Watch |date=June 27, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702062829/http://www.securityinfowatch.com/news/12225644/orlando-shooting-sharpens-scrutiny-on-screening-of-security-guards-in-florida |archive-date=July 2, 2016 }} The test administered was the updated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), a test used for job screenings and court cases requiring those subjected to it to agree or disagree with statements such as "My soul sometimes leaves my body" and "Once in a while I think of things too bad to talk about." Carol Nudelman, the psychologist listed on the character certification submitted by G4S to the state, said she stopped working for the company in 2005. After the shooting, Nudelman, who according to the records of the security company G4S, was said to have evaluated and cleared Mateen for his firearms license in 2007, denied ever meeting him or having lived in Florida at the time, and said she had stopped her practice in Florida in January 2006. G4S said Mateen was not actually interviewed by a psychologist, but rather, a psychologist evaluated the results of a standard test used in job screenings and his test was evaluated by the firm that bought Nudelman's practice, Headquarters for Psychological Evaluation.{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/1977077/security-firm-g4s-under-scrutiny-over-mistakes |title=Security firm G4S under scrutiny over mistakes on psychological report for Orlando shooter |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=June 18, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stratfor.com/weekly/vetting-against-odds |title=Vetting Against the Odds |publisher=STRATFOR |date=June 23, 2016 |editor=Mike Parks}}

On September 10, 2016, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services fined G4S $151,400 for providing inaccurate psychological testing information after it found the psychologist whose opinion was necessary to permit Mateen to carry a weapon was not practicing as a screener. Between 2006 and 2016, 1,514 forms were submitted erroneously listing Nudelman's name. Mateen's form was among those investigated.

[http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/national/florida-slaps-151k-fine-security-company-that-hired-pulse-shooter/lsXYlPK2JJFi30JyGW6FtO/ Florida slaps $151K fine on security company that hired Pulse shooter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403072037/http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/national/florida-slaps-151k-fine-security-company-that-hired-pulse-shooter/lsXYlPK2JJFi30JyGW6FtO/ |date=April 3, 2017 }}, Palm Beach Post, September 10, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.

He had taken the MMPI-2 and Dr. Syed Shafeeq Rahman, a family physician who had close ties with Mateen's family, gave him a medical clearance. Rahman was also the imam of the Fort Pierce mosque to which the family belonged and said that Mateen had become progressively more "reclusive," and did not speak to other congregants before or after services.[https://www.nytimes.com/live/orlando-nightclub-shooting-live-updates/imam-w Florida Shooting: Live Updates], New York Times, Alan Blinder, June 12, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2017. G4S admitted Mateen's form had a "clerical error," and clarified that he had instead been cleared by Rahman, who was from the same firm that bought the wrongly named doctor's practice. Rahman had not interviewed Mateen, but evaluated the results of a standard test used in the screening he undertook before being hired. Nonetheless, G4S removed Mateen from his job post at a courthouse because of threats he made towards coworkers, including one threat where he claimed he would have al-Qaeda kill a deputy's family.{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Dan |last2=Kovaleski |first2=Serge F. |last3=Blinder |first3=Alan |title='Always Agitated. Always Mad': Omar Mateen, According to Those Who Knew Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |access-date=June 19, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2016 |quote=In 2013, G4S removed Mr. Mateen from his security post at the St. Lucie County Courthouse after he had made 'inflammatory comments' about being involved somehow in terrorism. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619033803/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |archive-date=June 19, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie-county/port-st-lucie/pga-village-residents-present-findings-of-investigation-into-g4s-following-concern-of-omar-mateen |title=PGA Village residents present findings of investigation into G4S following concern of Omar Mateen |work=WPTV |date=October 19, 2016 |access-date=October 19, 2016 |first=Meghan |last=McRoberts}} Mateen had claimed that his coworkers and courthouse deputies were making racist comments towards him. Despite this, G4S "kept Mateen as an employee" but moved him "to a kiosk at a gated community in Palm Beach County."{{cite news |last=Ovalle |first=David |date=June 17, 2016 |title='Clerical error' on Orlando killer's psychological eval named wrong doctor |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article84490302.html |access-date=June 19, 2016 |work=The Miami Herald |quote=The company kept Mateen as an employee, moving him to a kiosk at a gated community in Palm Beach County |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619144733/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article84490302.html |archive-date=June 19, 2016 |url-status=live}} They never informed the community or its property management company about why he was transferred there.

Mateen held an active concealed carry permit and an armed security guard license.

{{cite news |url=https://licensing.freshfromflorida.com/access/individual.aspx?TYPE=INDIVIDUAL&CATEGORY=&COUNTY=00&LICENSE=D%202723758&STATUS=IND_DETAIL |title=Mateen, Omar |publisher=Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612230614/https://licensing.freshfromflorida.com/access/individual.aspx?TYPE=INDIVIDUAL&CATEGORY=&COUNTY=00&LICENSE=D%202723758&STATUS=IND_DETAIL |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}

It was also noted that Mateen had no adult criminal record.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-orlando-nightclub-omar-mateen-profile-20160613-story.html |title=Witness: Omar Mateen drank alone at Pulse before attack |last2=Brinkmann |first2=Paul |date=June 13, 2016 |work=Orlando Sentinel |last3=Stutzman |first3=Rene |first1=Gal Tziperman |last1=Lotan |access-date=June 13, 2016}} According to licensing records, he was a proficient shooter who scored at or above the 98th percentile with a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation/state-slaps-150000-fine-on-security-firm-that-employed-orlando-shooter/2292978/ |title=State slaps $150,000 fine on security firm that employed Orlando Pulse shooter Omar Mateen |work=The Tampa Bay Times |date=September 9, 2016 |access-date=September 10, 2016 |first=Anthony |last=Cormier}}

In 2006, Mateen filed a petition for a name change, adding Mateen as his surname to match that of his parents.

In April 2009, Mateen married his first wife, Sitora Alisherzoda Yusufiy,{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/news/2016/06/omar-mateen-wife-married-divorce-sitora-yusufiy-isis-facebook-page/ |title=Sitora Yusufiy, Omar Mateen's Ex-Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |publisher=Heavy |date=June 12, 2016 |author=Farrell, Paul}} an Uzbekistan-born woman whom he met in 2008 through Myspace, a social networking site.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/us/sitora-yusufiy-omar-mateen-orlando-shooting.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 14, 2016 |date=June 13, 2016 |title=Sitora Yusufiy, Ex-Wife of Orlando Suspect, Describes Abusive Marriage |first=Jack |last=Healy}} They separated after four months and divorced in July 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/382613301.xhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612233440/http://www.courierpress.com/news/382613301.xhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2016 |title=Orlando shooting suspect married, divorced within 2 years |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/index.html |title=Orlando shooting: 49 killed, shooter pledged ISIS allegiance |last1=Fantz |first1=Ashley |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |work=CNN|last2=Karimi |first2=Faith |last3=McLaughlin |first3=Eliott C.}}

Mateen visited Saudi Arabia for an eight-day trip in March 2011 and a ten-day trip in March 2012. The latter was organized by the Islamic Center at New York University. It included twelve New York City police officers and groups from Columbia and Yale and visited Mecca and Medina.{{cite news |access-date=June 19, 2016 |date=June 18, 2016 |title=Orlando gunman visited Saudi Arabia on NYU trip with 12 NYPD cops |work=Daily News |location=New York |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/orlando-gunman-visited-saudi-arabia-nyu-trip-12-nypd-cops-article-1.2678747 |quote='People on the trip can make their own decisions about how to spend their time, though typically most people participate in the day's itinerary,' NYU spokesman John Beckman told the Wall Street Journal. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618202418/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/orlando-gunman-visited-saudi-arabia-nyu-trip-12-nypd-cops-article-1.2678747 |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first1=Pervaiz |last1=Shallwani |first2=Devlin |last2=Barrett |first3=Ahmed |last3=Al Omran |first4=Adam |last4=Entous |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/orlando-shooter-visited-saudi-arabia-twice-on-pilgrimage-1465828337 |title=Orlando Shooter Scouted Walt Disney World During Search for Targets |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613162508/http://www.wsj.com/articles/orlando-shooter-visited-saudi-arabia-twice-on-pilgrimage-1465828337 |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}} Around this time, he went to the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|date=June 13, 2016|title=Orlando shooter reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia twice for a religious pilgrimage|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/omar-mateen-saudi-uae-umrah-2016-6|access-date=June 14, 2016|website=Business Insider}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/orlando-gunman-omar-mateen-cool-calm-during-negotiations-n590906 |title=Gunman Was 'Cool and Calm' During Negotiations: Officials |publisher=NBC News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |first=Cassandra |last=Vinograd}} FBI Director James Comey said Saudi officials helped investigate Mateen's trips.{{cite news |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |title=Orlando Gunman Had Been Taken Off Watch List, FBI Director Says |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/13/481889329/orlando-gunman-had-been-taken-off-watch-list-fbi-director-comey-says |access-date=June 17, 2016 |date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617043125/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/13/481889329/orlando-gunman-had-been-taken-off-watch-list-fbi-director-comey-says |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |url-status=live}} In June 2016, the House Intelligence Committee said that U.S. investigators "are searching for details about the Saudi Arabia trips."

In 2011, Mateen met his second wife, Noor Zahi Salman, on an online dating site. The two married shortly afterward in Hercules, California on September 29, 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-noor-salman-20160615-snap-story.html |title=Here's what we know about Noor Salman, the widow of the Orlando gunman |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 15, 2016 |author=Jarvie, Jenny |author2=Lin II, Rong-Gong}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/02/us/politics/orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-noor-salman.html?_r=0 |title=Orlando Gunman's Wife Breaks Silence: 'I Was Unaware' |work=The New York Times |date=November 1, 2016 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |first=Adam |last=Goldman}} She moved into Mateen's Fort Pierce home in November 2012. By September 2013, they were living in a house in Port St. Lucie with Mateen's father and another relative. She reportedly left Mateen and joined relatives in Rodeo, California by December 2015. At the time of his death, Mateen had a three-year-old son with Salman.{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/06/14/omar_mateen_wife_noor_salman_may_be_charged_report_says.html |title=Omar Mateen Had Remarried, and His Wife Apparently Knew About His Attack Plans |work=Slate |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |first=Ben |last=Mathis-Lilley}}{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-nightclub-shooter-apparently-made-threats-in-the-past-ex-wife-claims-he-beat-her |title=Florida nightclub shooter apparently made threats in the past; ex-wife claims he beat her and took steroids |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612151526/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/12/florida-nightclub-shooter-had-made-threats-in-past-reports-claim.html |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}

At the time of the shooting, he lived about {{convert|100|mi|km}} from Orlando, Florida, in Fort Pierce, but received mail at his parents' home in nearby Port St. Lucie. According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, he had no criminal record in Florida.

Mateen's father, Mir Seddique Mateen, said of his son's actions, "This had nothing to do with religion." He was quoted as saying that he had seen his son get angry after witnessing a gay couple kiss in front of his family at the Bayside Marketplace in Miami months before the attack, which he suggested might have been a motivating factor.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/terror-hate-what-motivated-orlando-nightclub-shooter-n590496 |title=Terror? Hate? What Motivated Orlando Nightclub Shooter? |last2=Conner |first2=Tracy |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=June 12, 2016 |last3=Ortiz |first3=Erik |first1=Pete |last1=Williams}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/orlando-nightclub-shooting-emergency-services-respond-reports-gunman-n590446 |title=Orlando Nightclub Shooting: Mass Casualties After Gunman Opens Fire in Gay Club |last2=Wyllie |first2=David |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=June 13, 2016 |last3=Fieldstadt |first3=Elisha |first1=Matthew |last1=Grimson}} The elder Mateen had formerly hosted a political TV show called Durand Jirga Show on California-based satellite television network Payam-e-Afghan in 2015, in which he denounced the then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, denounced the Pakistani government, self-represented himself as a candidate for the President of Afghanistan, and had expressed gratitude towards the Taliban.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcxPObfUXXc |title=Seddique Mateen candidacy announcement for President of Afghanistan_B (5.23.2015 Part 1 of 3) |last=Mateen |first=Seddique |date=May 23, 2015 |publisher=Durand Jirga Show |type=YouTube video |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613054410/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcxPObfUXXc |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first1=Tim |last1=Craig |first2=Max |last2=Bearak |first3=Lee |last3=Powell |title=Shooter Omar Mateen's father says he's saddened by massacre, calls gunman 'a good son' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/12/orlando-shooting-suspects-father-hosted-a-political-tv-show-and-even-tried-to-run-for-the-afghan-presidency |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=In one video, the elder Mateen expresses gratitude toward the Afghan Taliban while denouncing the Pakistani government. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816192344/https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/12/orlando-shooting-suspects-father-hosted-a-political-tv-show-and-even-tried-to-run-for-the-afghan-presidency |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |author= |title=Shooting suspect's father hosted political TV show, tried to run for Afghanistan presidency |url=https://www.columbiadailyherald.com/story/news/nation-world/2016/06/12/shooting-suspect-s-father-hosted/25675684007/ |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=The Daily Herald |language=en-US}} In one video of his show, the elder Mateen seems to call on the Afghan Taliban, which he called "our warrior brothers", to solve the issue of the disputed Durand Line, which marks the present international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Mezzofiore |first=Gianluca |date=June 13, 2016 |title=Orlando gunman's father railed against Afghan president in political show |url=https://mashable.com/article/seddique-mateen-omar-orlando-shooting |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

Following the nightclub attack, Mateen's ex-wife told media outlets that during their marriage, Mateen was mentally unstable, and would beat her and keep her completely separated from her family.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/ex-wife-of-suspected-orlando-shooter-he-beat-me/2016/06/12/8a1963b4-30b8-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html |title=Ex-wife of suspected Orlando shooter: 'He beat me' |last1=Goldman |first1=Adam |date=June 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=Tate |first2=Julie |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612174902/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/ex-wife-of-suspected-orlando-shooter-he-beat-me/2016/06/12/8a1963b4-30b8-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}} She also said that he was bipolar, though he had never been given that diagnosis, and had a history of using steroids. Mateen's second wife also said that Mateen became physically and verbally abusive towards her six months into their marriage, though she noted him being kinder in the weeks leading up to the shooting. A former high school student told The Washington Post that he witnessed 14-year-old Mateen, on the day of the September 11, 2001, attacks, being physically assaulted by his father, Mir Seddique Mateen, in front of other students.

Imam Shafiq Rahman at the Fort Pierce Islamic Center told reporters that Mateen would come to the mosque "three or four times a week"{{cite news |last1=Nehamas |first1=Nicholas |last2=Gurney |first2=Kyra |last3=Ovalle |first3=David |last4=Brown |first4=Julie K. |title=Omar Mateen: Portrait of America's deadliest mass shooter |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article83368952.html |access-date=June 13, 2016 |date=June 12, 2016 |quote=Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman said Mateen had been a regular attendee since childhood and came in for worship three or four times a week. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613020900/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article83368952.html |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}} with his father and his three-year-old son as recently as two days before the shooting, and said, "He was the most quiet guy. He would come and pray and leave. There was no indication at all of violence." Rahman added that he did not preach violence toward homosexuals.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-nation-live/liveblog/live-updates-orlando-shooting/?tid=sm_tw#4613c1fa-eecf-4c09-bef2-089c3c6d4f54 |title=Orlando shooting |date=June 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 12, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Lawler |first1=David |title=Omar Mateen's imam says he was known at the mosque for being aggressive |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/13/orlando-imam-says-he-had-not-feared-omar-mateen-could-be-radical/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614175557/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/13/orlando-imam-says-he-had-not-feared-omar-mateen-could-be-radical/ |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

A former high school friend and coworker said that Mateen had no obvious conflicts with his gay coworkers at Treasure Coast Square, a shopping mall at Jensen Beach.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/12/drag-queen-orlando-gunman-omar-mateen-was-my-friend.html |title=Drag Queen: Orlando Gunman Omar Mateen Was My Friend |work=The Daily Beast |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |first1=Katie |last1=Zavadski |first2=Lynn |last2=Waddell}}

A former coworker who worked with Mateen in a gated community in western Port St. Lucie described him as "unhinged and unstable." He also said that he frequently made homophobic, racist, and sexist comments, and talked about killing people.{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/12/who-omar-mateen/85791280 |title=Co-worker: Omar Mateen homophobic, 'unhinged' |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Nicole |date=June 12, 2016 |work=USA Today |publisher=Florida Today |last3=Jones |first3=Elliot |access-date=June 12, 2016 |first1=Anthony |last1=Westbury}} The coworker stated he complained to G4S about Mateen "several times";{{cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/12/who-omar-mateen/85791280/ |title=Co-worker: Omar Mateen homophobic, 'unhinged' |date=June 12, 2016 |agency=USA Today Network |quote=Gilroy, a former Fort Pierce police officer, said Mateen frequently made homophobic and racial comments. Gilroy said he complained to his employer several times but it did nothing because he was Muslim. |access-date=June 13, 2016}} another co-worker told The New York Times Mateen made people wait at the gate for a number of reasons, including "if it was time for him to do his prayers." A resident who had lived at the community since 2011 described Mateen as "very polite" and "a very nice, positive person"; however, another customer said Mateen "acted like a straight-up predator."{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Dan |last2=Kovaleski |first2=Serge F. |last3=Blinder |first3=Alan |last4=Mashal |first4=Mujib |title='Always Agitated. Always Mad': Omar Mateen, According to Those Who Knew Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |date=June 19, 2016 |access-date=June 19, 2016 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619033803/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/us/omar-mateen-gunman-orlando-shooting.html |archive-date=June 19, 2016 |url-status=live}}

Several people who knew Mateen have speculated that he might have been gay or bisexual. A male friend of his from 2006, when the two were in police academy together, said that Mateen went to gay clubs with him and that Mateen once expressed an interest in dating him. Club-goers also recalled Mateen dancing with another man.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/orlando-shooter-reported-pulse-club-regular-patrons-article-1.2672445 |title=Orlando shooter was regular at Pulse gay club; former classmate says Omar Mateen was homosexual |last=Sandoval |first=Edgar |date=June 13, 2016 |work=The New York Daily News |access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-gay-former-classma/nrfwW/ |title=Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was gay, former classmate says |date=June 13, 2016 |work=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614095038/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-gay-former-classma/nrfwW/ |url-status=dead }} One classmate, who asked not to be identified by name, said Mateen asked him if he was gay. The FBI has investigated many of these claims but has not found reasonable evidence to establish Mateen's sexual orientation.

After the shooting, the Orlando Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post reported that at least five regular customers at the Pulse nightclub had seen Mateen visit the venue on at least a dozen occasions. Sometimes Mateen drank in a corner by himself "and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent."{{cite news |last=Mower |first=Lawrence |date=June 14, 2016 |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-gay-former-classma/nrfwW/ |title=Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was gay, former classmate says |work=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614095038/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-gay-former-classma/nrfwW/ |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}} A witness, who recognized Mateen outside the club an hour before the shootings, told investigators that Mateen had been messaging him for about a year using a gay dating app called Jack'd. He gave his phone to the FBI for analysis, along with his login details for the application.{{cite news |title=Orlando gunman had used gay dating app and visited LGBT nightclub on other occasions, witnesses say |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160613-snap-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613233653/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160613-snap-story.html |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}} A third witness said that Mateen had tried to pick up men at the nightclub.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/14/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-a-regular-at-nightclub |title=Orlando gunman Omar Mateen 'was a regular at Pulse nightclub' |work=The Guardian |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |first1=Ed |last1=Pilkington |first2=Jessica |last2=Elgot}} Dozens of other witnesses, however, told the Tampa Bay Times that they had never seen Mateen at the nightclub. A spokesperson for Barbara Poma, the owner of the Pulse nightclub, called the statement that Mateen had been a regular patron "untrue and totally ridiculous."{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/florida-shooting-idUSL1N19709C |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=Reuters |title=Federal grand jury could charge wife of Orlando shooter |date=June 15, 2016 |first1=Letitia |last1=Stein |first2=Julia |last2=Edwards}}

Mateen's father Seddique denied that his son was closeted, saying, "If he was gay, why would he do something like this?" Two days later, after multiple reports questioned whether Mateen was homosexual, Mateen's father said, "I didn't see any of it and I don't believe that was the case."{{cite news |title=Orlando gunman's father reacts to speculation son was gay |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-shooting-gunman-omar-mateen-father-reacts-to-speculation-son-was-gay |work=CBS News |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615124012/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-shooting-gunman-omar-mateen-father-reacts-to-speculation-son-was-gay/ |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}} However, during an interview with the Brazilian television station SBT Brazil, Mateen's ex-wife claimed that his father called him gay while in her presence.{{cite news |title=Ex-wife's bombshell claim: Club shooter was gay |url=https://nypost.com/2016/06/13/shooter-used-to-visit-orlando-gay-club-use-gay-dating-apps/ |work=New York Post |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616032218/http://nypost.com/2016/06/13/shooter-used-to-visit-orlando-gay-club-use-gay-dating-apps/ |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |url-status=live}} Following the shooting, Mateen's father stated, in an online video in his native language, "In this month of Ramadan, the gay and lesbian issue is something that God will punish," though "the servants of God shouldn't have anything to do with it."{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160613-snap-story.html |title=Orlando gunman had used gay dating app and visited LGBT nightclub on other occasions, witnesses say |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |first1=Molly |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first2=Jenny |last2=Jarvie |first3=Del Quentin |last3=Wilber}}

The Wall Street Journal reported Mateen's ex-wife as saying that "[he] did feel strongly about homosexuality."{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Josh |last2=Bauerlein |first2=Valerie |last3=Paletta |first3=Damian |title=Before Orlando Shooter's Routine Last Days, Hints of Instability |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/before-orlando-shooters-routine-last-days-hints-of-instability-1465858489 |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal |quote=Mr. Mateen had 'confessed' to his ex-wife that in the past 'he very much enjoyed going to clubs and nightlife,' she told CNN on Monday. He 'never made any indication while we were together that he was gay, but he did feel strongly about homosexuality,' she said. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614002256/http://www.wsj.com/articles/before-orlando-shooters-routine-last-days-hints-of-instability-1465858489 |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}} When asked if Mateen was gay, his ex-wife said she "didn't know" and recalled that he had confessed to going to nightclubs.{{cite web |url=http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/06/14/13/16/omar-mateen-used-gay-dating-app-jackd |title=Omar Mateen used gay dating app Jack'd: witness |work=Ninemsn |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016}}

On June 16, The New York Times reported that the FBI was skeptical of reports that Mateen was "gay but 'closeted{{'"}} and that he had made use of homosexual bars and apps.{{cite news |title=Omar Mateen Posted to Facebook Amid Orlando Attack, Lawmaker Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/us/orlando-shooting.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2016 |date=June 16, 2016 |quote=Federal law enforcement officials said Thursday that the F.B.I. is increasingly skeptical of reports that Mr. Mateen was gay but 'closeted', that he had been visiting gay clubs or that he had used gay dating apps. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618111744/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/us/orlando-shooting.html |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=live}} On June 18, the same source added that "federal officials say they have found no evidence in his effects or online presence to back them up." On June 23, the Los Angeles Times reported that the FBI has found no evidence "to support claims by those who say Mateen had gay lovers or communicated on gay dating apps." Investigators consider at least one claimant of homosexual relationships with Mateen as not "credible": a man who self-identified as Mateen's lover-of-two-months, "Miguel," had said that he believed the massacre was committed in revenge against Latino men, following Mateen learning that he may have been exposed to HIV from a Puerto Rican man with whom he had sex; however, Mateen's autopsy results confirmed that he was HIV-negative.{{cite news |last=Goldman |first=Adam |date=July 15, 2016 |title=FBI has found no evidence that Orlando shooter targeted Pulse because it was a gay club |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-evidence-so-far-to-suggest-orlando-shooter-targeted-club-because-it-was-gay/2016/07/14/a7528674-4907-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 16, 2016 |quote=The FBI, however, has been unable to verify that Mateen used gay dating apps and instead has found evidence that Mateen was cheating on his wife with other women. Officials said there is nothing to suggest that he attempted to cover up his tracks by deleting files. They also added he did not make gay slurs during the shooting spree inside the club, based on witnesses. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113050506/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-evidence-so-far-to-suggest-orlando-shooter-targeted-club-because-it-was-gay/2016/07/14/a7528674-4907-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |author= |title=Omar Mateen's Alleged Male Lover Claims Orlando Nightclub Shooting Was Act Of 'Revenge' |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/22/omar-mateen-gay-lover-speaks/ |work=CBS New York |date=June 22, 2016 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625160325/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/22/omar-mateen-gay-lover-speaks/ |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |author= |title=Omar Mateen's Alleged Male Lover: 'He Did It For Revenge' Against Latino Men |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/21/omar-mateen-gay-lover/ |work=CBS New York |date=June 21, 2016 |access-date=July 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706174743/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/21/omar-mateen-gay-lover/ |archive-date=July 6, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Otis |first=Ginger Adams |date=July 15, 2016 |title=Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen was HIV-negative and user of steroids, autopsy shows |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/omar-mateen-hiv-negative-habitual-steroid-user-autopsy-article-1.2713155 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=July 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716123413/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/omar-mateen-hiv-negative-habitual-steroid-user-autopsy-article-1.2713155 |archive-date=July 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |title=FBI investigators say they have found no evidence that Orlando shooter had gay lovers |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-gay-fbi-20160623-snap-story.html |access-date=June 24, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times |quote=But the FBI has found no evidence so far to support claims by those who say Mateen had gay lovers or communicated on gay dating apps, several law enforcement officials said. [...] He said Mateen had sex with other men too, including a threesome with a Puerto Rican who allegedly told Mateen, after having had unprotected sex with him, that he was HIV positive. But investigators do not consider the man's account credible. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625004254/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-gay-fbi-20160623-snap-story.html |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}

On June 25, The New York Times reported that after exhaustive investigation with help from the FBI, the gay dating network Adam4Adam concluded that Mateen had never used its app. With regard to reports of Mateen using it and other dating sites and apps for gay men, an Adam4Adam spokesman said, "I think it was a hoax." The article stated that after 500 interviews, the FBI had not found any evidence of homosexuality "through (Mateen's) web searches, emails or other electronic data."{{cite news |last1=Robles |first1=Frances |last2=Turkewitz |first2=Julie |title=Was the Orlando Gunman Gay? The Answer Continues to Elude the F.B.I. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/us/was-the-orlando-gunman-gay-the-answer-continues-to-elude-the-fbi.html |date=June 26, 2016 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |work=The New York Times |quote='I think it was a hoax,' David Lesage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628050442/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/us/was-the-orlando-gunman-gay-the-answer-continues-to-elude-the-fbi.html |archive-date=June 28, 2016 |url-status=live}} The FBI reported that they had "found evidence that Mateen was cheating on his wife with other women."

The FBI investigated Mateen in May 2013 after he made "inflammatory" remarks while working as a security guard. Mateen had told his coworkers that his family was linked to al-Qaeda and that he had joined Hezbollah, both rivals of the Islamic State (IS) and of one another. Mateen pledged allegiance to IS during his 2016 shooting.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/index.html |title=Omar Mateen: Angry, violent 'bigot' who pledged allegiance to ISIS |last1=Perez |first1=Evan |last2=Prokupecz |first2=Shimon |website=CNN|access-date=June 27, 2017 |quote=But both of the investigations were closed, and Mateen -- who would go on to call 911 and pledge allegiance to ISIS during his rampage -- was not under investigation or surveillance at the time of the attack. |last3=Shoichet |first3=Catherine E. |last4=Hume |first4=Tim|date=June 13, 2016 }} FBI Director James Comey commented on the contradictions within Mateen's statements. The FBI interviewed Mateen twice after opening the investigation; in these interviews, Mateen admitted to making the statements but "explained that he said them in anger because his co-workers were teasing him." After ten months, the investigation was closed and Mateen determined not to be a threat. Mateen had been placed on a terrorist watch list while the investigation was under way, but he was removed from it afterwards. Mateen came to the FBI's attention again in July 2014, when he was linked to Moner Mohammad Abu Salha, an American who had traveled to Syria and committed a suicide bombing in late May 2014. The two had been acquainted and "attended the same mosque." The investigation continued, but focused on Abu Salha rather than Mateen,{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Shabad |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-comey-highly-confident-orlando-shooter-radicalized-through-internet/ |title=FBI Director Comey: "highly confident" Orlando shooter radicalized through internet |work=CBS News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614075936/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-comey-highly-confident-orlando-shooter-radicalized-through-internet/ |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Entous |first2=Adam |last3=Cullison |first3=Alan |title=FBI Twice Probed Orlando Gunman |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/orlando-gunman-was-twice-probed-by-fbi-1465761322 |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal |quote=Law-enforcement officials said that investigation was prompted because Abu-Salha and Mateen attended the same mosque. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620125427/http://www.wsj.com/articles/orlando-gunman-was-twice-probed-by-fbi-1465761322 |archive-date=June 20, 2016 |url-status=live}} law-enforcement officials told The Wall Street Journal.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/omar-mateen-suspected-orlando-night-club-shooter/story?id=39790797 |title=What We Know About Omar Mateen, Suspected Orlando Nightclub Shooter |last1=Katersky |first1=Aaron |last2=Meek |first2=James Gordon |date=June 12, 2016 |last3=Margolin |first3=Josh |last4=Hayden |first4=Michael Edison |work=ABC News |access-date=June 12, 2016}}

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, said that according to the Department of Homeland Security, Mateen had pledged allegiance to IS, though analysts noted that "at this point, it's anyone's guess as to how involved Omar Mateen was with either Al Qaeda or IS."{{cite news|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|date=June 12, 2016|title=ISIS-linked news agency claims responsibility for shooting rampage at gay nightclub that left 50 dead|work=Business Insider|url=http://nordic.businessinsider.com/omar-mateen-orlando-nightclub-shooting-pulse-2016-6|url-status=live|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615131813/http://nordic.businessinsider.com/omar-mateen-orlando-nightclub-shooting-pulse-2016-6|archive-date=June 15, 2016}} Mateen had also pledged support for a suicide bomber who claimed to represent the al-Nusra Front, a Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and an opponent of IS.{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/orlando-omar-mateen-pledged-loyalty-isil-160613174808533.html |title=Orlando: Omar Mateen 'pledged loyalty to ISIL, others' |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Pete |last2=Connor |first2=Tracy |last3=Ortiz |first3=Erik |last4=Gosk |first4=Stephanie |author1-link=Pete Williams (journalist) |title=Gunman Omar Mateen Described as Belligerent, Racist and 'Toxic' |publisher=NBC News |date=June 12, 2016 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/terror-hate-what-motivated-orlando-nightclub-shooter-n590496 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612161631/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/terror-hate-what-motivated-orlando-nightclub-shooter-n590496 |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}} After Mateen's attack, the FBI determined his computer had been used to watch extremist videos, including beheadings, and "to seek information on Islamic State."{{cite news |last1=Wilber |first1=Del Quentin |title=The FBI investigated the Orlando mass shooter for 10 months — and found nothing. Here's why |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-fbi-investigation-mateen-20160712-snap-story.html |access-date=July 14, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 2016 |quote=the FBI determined that Mateen's laptop computer had been used in recent years to view extremist videos online, including grisly beheadings. It also was used to seek information on Islamic State. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714112902/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-fbi-investigation-mateen-20160712-snap-story.html |archive-date=July 14, 2016 |url-status=live}} His wife knew he watched the jihadist videos, "but she did not think much of it because the F.B.I. seemed to have cleared him." A survivor of the shooting said Mateen talked about wanting the United States to "stop bombing my country" and confirmed that Mateen pledged allegiance to IS.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/14/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-omar-mateen-wife |title=Omar Mateen's wife may be charged if she knew he was planning Orlando shooting |work=The Guardian |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |first=David |last=Smith |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615001910/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/14/orlando-shooting-pulse-nightclub-omar-mateen-wife |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-survivor-patience-carter-gunman-tried-to-spare-black-people/ |title=Orlando survivor: Gunman tried to spare black people |publisher=CBS News |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615121937/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-survivor-patience-carter-gunman-tried-to-spare-black-people/ |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{Further|Orlando nightclub shooting}}

Two months before the attack, Mateen transferred his share of a Port St. Lucie home for only $10 to his sister and brother-in-law.

{{cite news|title=Orlando gunman had turned over share of house to relatives for $10 {{!}} Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/orlando-gunman-had-turned-over-share-of-house-to-relatives-for-10/|access-date=June 18, 2016|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617223014/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/17/florida-bartender-says-orlando-gunman-stalked-her-almost-decade-ago.html|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=live}}

Mateen legally purchased a SIG Sauer SIG MCX semi-automatic rifle and a 9mm Glock 17 handgun,{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-omar-mateen-cool-and-calm-police-negotiators-pulse-nightclub |title=Orlando shooter was 'cool and calm' at the end |work=CBS News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite web |first1=David |last1=Caplan |first2=Michael Edison |last2=Hayden |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-injuries-shooting-orlando-nightclub-police/story?id=39789552 |title=At Least 50 Dead in Orlando Gay Club Shooting, Suspect Pledged Allegiance to ISIS, Officials Say |date=June 12, 2016 |work=ABC News |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612100306/https://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-injuries-shooting-orlando-nightclub-police/story?id=39789552 |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-shooting-timeline |title=Timeline of Orlando nightclub shooting |work=CNN|date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |first=Chandrika |last=Narayan}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pulse-nightclub-shooting-orlando |title=50 dead, Islamic terrorism tie eyed in Orlando gay bar shooting |work=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016}} the two firearms later used in the shooting, from a gun shop in Port St. Lucie two weeks before the shooting.{{cite web |first1=Tom |last1=Winter |first2=Tracy |last2=Connor |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/dealer-who-sold-orlando-massacre-guns-i-don-t-make-n591456 |title=Dealer Who Sold Orlando Massacre Guns: 'I Don't Make the Laws' |publisher=NBC News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613203421/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/dealer-who-sold-orlando-massacre-guns-i-don-t-make-n591456 |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}} He also attempted to purchase body armor, but was unable to do so as the store where he tried to make the purchase did not sell the product he sought.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/index.html |title=Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS, official says |last1=Perez |first1=Evan |last2=Prokupecz |first2=Shimon |last3=Shoichet |first3=Catherine E. |work=CNN|date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://fox28media.com/news/nation-world/police-omar-mir-mateen-of-port-st-lucie-identified-as-alleged-pulse-nightclub-killer |first=Gary |last=Detman |title=Reports: Omar Mateen of Fort Pierce identified as Pulse Nightclub killer |work=FOX 28 Media |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016}} Several weeks before the attack, he attempted to purchase body armor and 1,000 rounds of bulk ammunition at another gun shop, but the staff became suspicious of him and turned him away. A salesperson at the shop then said he contacted the FBI, but federal officials said they had no record of such a report, and the local sheriff's office also said it was unaware of the incident.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/ |title=Orlando shooter texted wife during attack, source says |work=CNN|date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |first1=Holly |last1=Yan |first2=Pamela |last2=Brown |first3=Evan |last3=Perez}}{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/gma/orlando-shooter-turned-away-different-gun-store-being-141628142--abc-news-topstories.html |title=Orlando Shooter Was Turned Away From Different Gun Store for Being 'Suspicious' |work=Yahoo! GMA |date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |first1=Brian |last1=Ross |first2=Gerry |last2=Wagschal |first3=Rhonda |last3=Schwartz |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327145002/https://www.yahoo.com/gma/orlando-shooter-turned-away-different-gun-store-being-141628142--abc-news-topstories.html |url-status=dead }}

ABC News and Fox News reported that early in the morning of June 12, the day of the attack, Mateen posted on one of his Facebook accounts: "The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west ... You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes...now taste the Islamic state{{sic|expected=Islamic State's}} vengeance" as well as "America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic state." His final post to Facebook was "In the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic State in the usa." These posts, since deleted, were uncovered by the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Brian |last2=Schwartz |first2=Rhonda |last3=Dukakis |first3=Alexandra |last4=Ferran |first4=Lee |title=Orlando Shooter on Facebook: Now 'Taste' ISIS 'Vengeance' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/orlando-shooter-facebook-now-taste-isis-vengeance/story?id=39875518 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=ABC News |date=June 15, 2016 |quote='You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance,' Mateen posted early Sunday morning, according to officials in the FBI's counterterrorism division. 'In the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic State in the usa.' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616044519/https://abcnews.go.com/US/orlando-shooter-facebook-now-taste-isis-vengeance/story?id=39875518 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Malia |title=Orlando terrorist's chilling Facebook posts from inside club revealed |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/orlando-terrorists-chilling-facebook-posts-from-inside-club-revealed |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |work=Fox News Channel |quote='The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west ... You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616012540/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/15/orlando-terrorists-chilling-facebook-posts-from-inside-club-revealed.html |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}

Officials briefed on the investigation also said Mateen went to an unspecified Walt Disney World theme park with his wife.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/13/disney-world-was-scouted-by-orlando-gunman-omar-mateen-as-possib/ |title=Disney World was scouted by Orlando gunman Omar Mateen as possible terror target |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |first1=Gordon |last1=Rayner |first2=David |last2=Lawler |first3=Harriet |last3=Alexander}} He visited both Disney Springs, where security is less strict than at Disney theme parks, and Pulse between June 1 and 6 during the Gay Days 2016 celebrations at Disney World and in the Orlando area.{{cite news |last1=Perez |first1=Evan |last2=Prokupecz |first2=Shimon |last3=Ap |first3=Tiffany |title=Patron: Mateen was familiar face at Pulse nightclub |work=CNN|date=June 14, 2016 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/index.html |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614073912/http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/index.html |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}

An imam for a mosque in Kissimmee said Mateen prayed there with his wife and child during the week preceding the shooting. He released video footage showing what appeared to be Mateen on June 8, four days before the shooting, praying for about ten minutes.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/religion/religion-world/os-kissimmee-islamic-center-mateen-video-the-american-muslim-leadership-council-20160928-story.html |title=Imam: Omar Mateen prayed at Kissimmee mosque days before attack |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=September 28, 2016 |access-date=September 29, 2016 |first=Bethany |last=Rodgers}}

Hours before the attack, Mateen stopped by his parents' home to visit his father, who said he did not notice anything strange about his son during the visit. That same day, Omar gave his second wife, Noor Salman, $1,000 and allowed her to depart to visit her mother in California.

On June 14, 2016, NBC News reported that Noor Salman told the FBI she "drove him once to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out."{{cite news |title=Omar Mateen's Wife Tried to Talk Him Out of Orlando Attack, Sources Say |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/omar-mateen-s-wife-tried-talk-him-out-orlando-attack-n592051 |publisher=NBC News |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |first1=Pete |last1=Williams |first2=Tom |last2=Winter |first3=Jonathan |last3=Dienst |first4=Ken |last4=Dilanian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615010907/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/orlando-nightclub-massacre/omar-mateen-s-wife-tried-talk-him-out-orlando-attack-n592051 |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}} The FBI was almost immediately aware that this was not true, due to its review of cell phone location records from the day in question.{{cite web |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/noor-salman-trial/feds-call-final-witnesses-in-noor-salman-trial |title=Attorneys ask judge to dismiss charges against Pulse gunman's widow mid trial: Government witness proves Noor Salman did not scout nightclub before shooting |first=Emilee |last=Speck |date=March 22, 2018 |publisher=WKMG-TV}} Omar Mateen had searched for Orlando nightclub locations in the evening before the attack.

An official involved with the investigation told the Associated Press that authorities believed she knew about the plot beforehand, but were reluctant to charge her based only on this suspicion.{{cite web |first=Andrea |last=Noble |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/14/omar-mateen-a-regular-at-pulse-he-was-a-homosexual/ |title=Omar Mateen a regular at Pulse: 'He was a homosexual, and he was trying to pick up men' |work=The Washington Times |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615123859/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/14/omar-mateen-a-regular-at-pulse-he-was-a-homosexual/ |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}} Days before the shooting, she had accompanied Mateen on a shopping trip where he purchased ammunition while she was elsewhere buying a child's toy. She warned him the evening before the event against anything that he might be planning.

On March 30, 2018, an Orlando jury found her not guilty as the prosecution had not met its burden of providing evidentiary proof. According to the jury foreman, the jury felt she had vague foreknowledge of her husband's intentions. The FBI agent's interrogation went untaped, meaning the jurors did not get to see or hear it. She had been held in jail awaiting trial since her arrest in California five months after the massacre.

[http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-noor-salman-pulse-trial-verdict-not-guilty-20180327-story.html Noor Salman verdict: Omar Mateen's widow not guilty of all charges in Pulse massacre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403072201/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-noor-salman-pulse-trial-verdict-not-guilty-20180327-story.html |date=April 3, 2018 }}, Orlando Sentinel, Gal Tziperman Lotan and Krista Torralva, March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

At approximately 2:02 a.m. on June 12, 2016, Mateen entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and began shooting. At 2:22 a.m., he made a 911 call in which he pledged allegiance to IS; referenced Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombers; and mentioned Moner Mohammad Abu Salha, an acquaintance of his who died in a suicide bombing in Syria for the Al-Nusra Front in 2014.{{cite web|last1=Bertrand|first1=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|last2=Engel|first2=Pamela|date=June 13, 2016|title=The FBI director just painted a bizarre picture of the man behind the worst mass shooting in US history|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/james-comey-orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-fbi-2016-6|access-date=June 13, 2016|website=Business Insider}} According to FBI officials, Mateen made two other 911 calls during the shooting.{{cite web |url=http://www.wbur.org/news/2016/06/13/mateen-orlando-tsarnaevs-monday |title=FBI Boston Chief: In Call, Mateen Referred To Tsarnaevs As His 'Homeboys' |work=WBUR News |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016}} He also called News 13 of Orlando and identified himself as the nightclub shooter; The Washington Post reported that he said "he had carried out the Pulse attack for the Islamic State."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Michael E. |title='I'm the shooter. It's me': Gunman called local TV station during attack, station says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/15/im-the-shooter-its-me-gunman-called-local-tv-station-during-attack-station-says/ |access-date=June 15, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 15, 2016 |quote=The caller then said he had carried out the Pulse attack for the Islamic State and began speaking quickly in Arabic. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615155427/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/15/im-the-shooter-its-me-gunman-called-local-tv-station-during-attack-station-says/ |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2016/6/14/orlando_shooting_oma.html |title=Mateen to News 13 producer: 'I'm the shooter. It's me.' |publisher=News 13 |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |first=Scott |last=Fais}} The Islamic State had also released a statement via Amaq News Agency, taking responsibility for the attack.{{cite news |title=READ: Official ISIS Statement on Orlando Terror Attack by Amaq News Agency |url=http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/official-isis-islamic-state-statement-about-orlando-florida-terrorist-terrorism-attack-shooting-omar-mateen-lone-wolf-attack-amaq-news/ |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=Heavy |date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613065514/http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/official-isis-islamic-state-statement-about-orlando-florida-terrorist-terrorism-attack-shooting-omar-mateen-lone-wolf-attack-amaq-news/ |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}

Mateen took hostages after police arrived and engaged in a gunfight with him. At approximately 5:14 a.m. police shot and killed Mateen, ending the shooting. A total of 49 people were left dead along with Mateen, and 53 others were injured.{{cite news |first1=Sheryl Gay |last1=Stolberg |first2=Richard |last2=Pérez-Peña |author-link2=Richard Pérez-Peña |title=Orlando Shooting Survivors Cope With the Trauma of Good Fortune |work=The New York Times |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/orlando-shooting.html |quote=The slaughter early Sunday left 49 victims dead, in addition to the gunman, and 53 wounded ...More than 30 of the wounded remained in hospitals on Tuesday, including at least six who were in critical condition. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614163332/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/orlando-shooting.html |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}} Mateen was reported to have fired at least 110 rounds during the entire event.{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Harriet |last2=Lawler |first2=David |date=June 13, 2016 |title='We thought it was part of the music': how the Pulse nightclub massacre unfolded in Orlando |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/12/we-thought-it-was-part-of-the-music-how-the-pulse-nightclub-mass/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613041348/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/12/we-thought-it-was-part-of-the-music-how-the-pulse-nightclub-mass/ |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |author= |title=Law enforcement source: 202 rounds fired during Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando |url=http://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending-now/law-enforcement-source-202-rounds-fired-during-pulse-nightclub-shooting-in-orlando/340948566 |publisher=WSOC-TV |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614125056/http://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending-now/law-enforcement-source-202-rounds-fired-during-pulse-nightclub-shooting-in-orlando/340948566 |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Rothwell |first1=James |last2=Alexander |first2=Harriet |last3=Sherlock |first3=Ruth |last4=Akkoc |first4=Raziye |last5=Graham |first5=Chris |date=June 13, 2016 |title=Details emerge about Orlando gunman Omar Mateen |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/14/details-emerge-about-orlando-gunman-omar-mateen/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716231855/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/14/details-emerge-about-orlando-gunman-omar-mateen/ |archive-date=July 16, 2016 |url-status=live}} The attack was the deadliest known incident of violence against LGBT people in U.S. history{{cite web |first=Mark Joseph| author-link = Mark Joseph Stern | last = Stern |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/06/12/pulse_nightclub_shooting_and_tragic_history_of_violence_at_lgbtq_clubs_in.html |title=The Long, Tragic History of Violence at LGBTQ Bars and Clubs in America |work=Slate |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612172215/http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/06/12/pulse_nightclub_shooting_and_tragic_history_of_violence_at_lgbtq_clubs_in.html |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{efn|The previous deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people had been the UpStairs Lounge arson attack in 1973, in which 32 victims were killed.{{cite news |first=Liam |last=Stack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/upstairs-lounge-new-orleans-fire-orlando-gay-bar.html |title=Before Orlando Shooting, an Anti-Gay Massacre in New Orleans Was Largely Forgotten |work=The New York Times |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2016 |quote=The terrorist attack that killed 49 and wounded 53 in Orlando, Fla., was the largest mass killing of gay people in American history, but before Sunday that grim distinction was held by a largely forgotten arson at a New Orleans bar in 1973 that killed 32 people at a time of pernicious anti-gay stigma. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614153827/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/upstairs-lounge-new-orleans-fire-orlando-gay-bar.html |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}}} and the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in the United States until the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.{{efn|The previous deadliest shooting had been the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, in which 32 victims were killed.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160612-snap-story.html |title=Fifty dead in Orlando gay nightclub shooting, worst mass killing in U.S. history; gunman reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016}}}}

Mateen was eventually buried in the Muslim Cemetery of South Florida, in Hialeah Gardens.{{cite news |last=Cherney |first=Elyssa |date=July 27, 2016 |title=Senator: FBI investigations into Pulse gunman need review |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/investigation/os-inspector-general-pulse-mateen-20160727-story.html |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=July 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731201641/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/investigation/os-inspector-general-pulse-mateen-20160727-story.html |archive-date=July 31, 2016 |url-status=live}} An autopsy found he was shot eight times by police in the head, chest, abdomen, calf, feet, and toe. The bullets, fired from a short distance, went through and through from front to back, suggesting he was shot while facing officers. Several lacerations and "blunt-force injuries," such as bruising and scrapes to his torso, were found, although the origin of these wounds was unclear. No alcohol or illegal drugs were detected in his system. He was wearing two pairs of socks.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/omar-mateen/os-pulse-shooting-mateen-autopsy-20160805-story.html |title=Autopsy: Pulse shooter Omar Mateen shot eight times |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=August 5, 2016 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |first=Caitlin |last=Doornbos}}{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/pulse-nightclub-shooter-omar-mateen-000000431.html |title=Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen shot eight times, autopsy reveals |work=Yahoo! News |date=August 5, 2016 |access-date=August 5, 2016 |first=Jason |last=Sickles}}{{cite web |url=http://www.advocate.com/crime/2016/8/06/autopsy-report-reveals-omar-mateen-was-shot-eight-times |title=Autopsy Report Reveals Omar Mateen Was Shot Eight Times |work=The Advocate |date=August 6, 2016 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |first=Yezmin |last=Villarreal}}

• List of Islamist terrorist attacks
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• Violence against LGBT people

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• [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/os-omar-mateen-security-oil-spill-story.html Video excerpt of The Big Fix featuring Mateen in 2010]

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