The names of the some of the victims who were killed in an attack at an Orlando nightclub were released early Sunday afternoon, hours after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history claimed the lives of 50 people.
As of 5 p.m., Monday, Orlando officials have released the namesof ten of the victims.
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Kimberly Morris, 37
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Enrique Rios, 25
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Cory James Connell, 21
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Amanda Alvear, 25
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Frank Hernandez, 27
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
The target
Patrons of the Pulse nightclub, which on its website describes itself as "the hottest gay bar in Orlando." June is Pride Month.
Dramatic new details about how some employees and patrons of the nightclub survived, according to a source close to the nightclub's owners and employees:
One person hiding in the bathroom covered herself with bodies to protect herself. She survived.
Some entertainers hid in the dressing room when the shooting started. They were able to escape the building when police removed the air conditioning unit and crawled out.
One of the bartenders said that she was hiding under the glass bar. Police came in and said, "If you are alive, raise your hand." Police got them out.
Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse, released the following statement: "Like everyone in the country, I am devastated about the horrific events that have taken place today. Pulse, and the men and women who work there, have been my family for nearly 15 years. From the beginning, Pulse has served as a place of love and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. I want to express my profound sadness and condolences to all who have lost loved ones. Please know that my grief and heart are with you."
The shooter
The shooter has been identified as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The suspect was from Fort Pierce, Florida. Mateen mentioned ISIS in a 911 call during the attack, but details are still emerging about his ties to the terror group.
The family of the shooter told investigators Mateen wasn't particularly religious from what they observed. They expressed surprise about any connection to ISIS, according to two law enforcement officials.
Mateen did express outrage to his father after seeing two men kissing in Miami, investigators say. Mateen's ex-wife told investigators he had issues with anger.
The shooter purchased a handgun and a long gun within the last few days, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Trevor Velinor told reporters. "He is not a prohibited person. They can legally walk into a gun dealership and acquire and purchase firearms. He did so. And he did so within the last week or so," Velinor said.
Mateen was interviewed by the FBI in 2013 and 2014, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper told reporters. "Those interviews turned out to be inconclusive, so there was nothing to keep the investigation going," Hopper said.
Mateen was not under investigation at the time of the shooting and was not under surveillance, Hopper said.
According to a neighbor who saw him regularly, Mateen worked as a security guard at the Port St. Lucie courthouse. The neighbor said Mateen often worked security in the front of the building, manning the metal detectors.
Other locations
FBI teams, along with local law enforcement, are working to clear the apartment where the shooter lived in Fort Pierce, a federal law enforcement told CNN.
Agents are going through the apartment with bomb squads and investigating materials there, the source said.
Reaction
"This is clearly an act of terrorism," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Sunday as he spoke to reporters about the shooting. "It's sickening," he said. "It should make every American angry."
President Barack Obama addressed the nation, calling the Orlando attack an "act of terror and an act of hate." He ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. This is the 15th time Obama has made an address in response to a mass shooting.
Obama's first campaign appearance with presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been postponed because of the Orlando shootings, the campaign announced.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the Orlando nightclub terror attack on jihadi forums, but ISIS sympathizers reacted by praising the attack on pro-Islamic State forums, according to CNN Terrorism Analyst Paul Cruickshank.
