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Pulse nightclub shooting: what we know so far about the gunman	Pulse nightclub shooting: what we know so far about the gunman
2016-06-13 19:25:12 UTC	2016-08-26 14:40:42 UTC (2 months later)
On Monday, a picture began to form of the man who killed 49 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, in America’s worst mass shooting. Omar Mateen, it emerged, was a fantasist who invented links to Islamist terrorists and whose ex-wife described him as violent and mentally ill.	On Monday, a picture began to form of the man who killed 49 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, in America’s worst mass shooting. Omar Mateen, it emerged, was a fantasist who invented links to Islamist terrorists and whose ex-wife described him as violent and mentally ill.
~~Related: Orlando shooter investigated for false claim of ties to Boston Marathon bombers~~
Mateen, who carried out his attack in the early hours of Sunday morning, first came under the scrutiny of US law enforcement after claiming to be associated with the brothers who mounted the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the Guardian has learned.	Mateen, who carried out his attack in the early hours of Sunday morning, first came under the scrutiny of US law enforcement after claiming to be associated with the brothers who mounted the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the Guardian has learned.
According to a source close to the investigation who requested anonymity, he told coworkers at the private security firm G4S that he knew Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. In 2013, the FBI interviewed Mateen twice about his purported connection to the Tsarnaev brothers. Investigators determined that he had invented the connection and did not pose a security threat.	According to a source close to the investigation who requested anonymity, he told coworkers at the private security firm G4S that he knew Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. In 2013, the FBI interviewed Mateen twice about his purported connection to the Tsarnaev brothers. Investigators determined that he had invented the connection and did not pose a security threat.
The FBI would not comment on the invented Tsarnaev connection.	The FBI would not comment on the invented Tsarnaev connection.
“I can confirm that the subject made allegations of terror ties that investigation proved to be unfounded, but I can’t comment on the specific association,” Matthew Berton, an FBI spokesman, told the Guardian.	“I can confirm that the subject made allegations of terror ties that investigation proved to be unfounded, but I can’t comment on the specific association,” Matthew Berton, an FBI spokesman, told the Guardian.
The FBI interviewed Mateen again in 2014, due to an ultimately unsubstantiated connection to another Florida resident, Moner Mohammed Abusalha, who in Syria in 2014 became a truck bomber for an al-Qaida affiliate. Again, the FBI determined that Mateen did not have any real connection, and closed its investigation.	The FBI interviewed Mateen again in 2014, due to an ultimately unsubstantiated connection to another Florida resident, Moner Mohammed Abusalha, who in Syria in 2014 became a truck bomber for an al-Qaida affiliate. Again, the FBI determined that Mateen did not have any real connection, and closed its investigation.
Such invented connections to terrorists have raised doubts about the sincerity of Mateen’s pledge of allegiance to Islamic State in a 911 call during his attack.	Such invented connections to terrorists have raised doubts about the sincerity of Mateen’s pledge of allegiance to Islamic State in a 911 call during his attack.
Isis quickly claimed credit for the Orlando shooting, which followed a call for violence during Ramadan. Preliminarily, however, US officials consider Mateen not to have had any ties to the jihadist group, making him a so-called lone wolf attacker – if indeed he was motivated to attack the US, rather than by violent homophobia.	Isis quickly claimed credit for the Orlando shooting, which followed a call for violence during Ramadan. Preliminarily, however, US officials consider Mateen not to have had any ties to the jihadist group, making him a so-called lone wolf attacker – if indeed he was motivated to attack the US, rather than by violent homophobia.
In a statement at the White House on Monday morning, Barack Obama said there was “no clear evidence” Mateen was directed or was part of a larger plot. He said it appeared the killer was inspired by extremist information disseminated over the internet.	In a statement at the White House on Monday morning, Barack Obama said there was “no clear evidence” Mateen was directed or was part of a larger plot. He said it appeared the killer was inspired by extremist information disseminated over the internet.
“This is certainly an example of the type of homegrown extremism that all of us have been concerned about for a long time,” the president said.	“This is certainly an example of the type of homegrown extremism that all of us have been concerned about for a long time,” the president said.
James Comey, the FBI director, said: “It is not entirely clear at this point what terrorist group he aspired to support.	James Comey, the FBI director, said: “It is not entirely clear at this point what terrorist group he aspired to support.
“Although he made clear his affinity at the time of the attack for Isil and generally leading up to the attack for radical Islamist groups, he made 911 calls from the club at about 2.30 on Sunday morning ... He said he was doing this for the leader of Isil, who he named and pledged loyalty to, but he also appeared to pledge solidarity with the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing and solidarity with a Florida man who died in Syria as a suicide bomber for Al-Nusra Front, a group in conflict with the so-called Islamic State.”	“Although he made clear his affinity at the time of the attack for Isil and generally leading up to the attack for radical Islamist groups, he made 911 calls from the club at about 2.30 on Sunday morning ... He said he was doing this for the leader of Isil, who he named and pledged loyalty to, but he also appeared to pledge solidarity with the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing and solidarity with a Florida man who died in Syria as a suicide bomber for Al-Nusra Front, a group in conflict with the so-called Islamic State.”
According to Florida state records, Mateen held licenses to work as a security guard and carry a firearm. A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Mateen purchased the weapons he used in the Orlando shooting within the past week. He had no criminal record.	According to Florida state records, Mateen held licenses to work as a security guard and carry a firearm. A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Mateen purchased the weapons he used in the Orlando shooting within the past week. He had no criminal record.
Mateen, 29 and from Fort Pierce on Florida’s Treasure Coast, was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. He was a US citizen, born on Long Island, New York, to parents who emigrated from Afghanistan.	Mateen, 29 and from Fort Pierce on Florida’s Treasure Coast, was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. He was a US citizen, born on Long Island, New York, to parents who emigrated from Afghanistan.
Mateen is believed to have voluntarily informed G4S of his contact with the FBI. In 2013, he worked as an armed security guard for a courthouse in Port St Lucie, Florida. His last role with the company, held until his death, was as an unarmed guard of a gated retirement community.	Mateen is believed to have voluntarily informed G4S of his contact with the FBI. In 2013, he worked as an armed security guard for a courthouse in Port St Lucie, Florida. His last role with the company, held until his death, was as an unarmed guard of a gated retirement community.
At a press conference in Colorado on Sunday, Sitora Yusifiy recalled her ex-husband’s temper, saying Mateen had beaten her regularly after they were married in Port St Lucie in 2009.	At a press conference in Colorado on Sunday, Sitora Yusifiy recalled her ex-husband’s temper, saying Mateen had beaten her regularly after they were married in Port St Lucie in 2009.
“A few months after we were married I saw his instability, I saw his bipolar, and he would get mad out of nowhere, and that’s when I started worrying about my safety,” Yusifiy said. “Then after a few months he started abusing me physically, very often, and not allowing me to speak to my family, and keeping me hostage from them.”	“A few months after we were married I saw his instability, I saw his bipolar, and he would get mad out of nowhere, and that’s when I started worrying about my safety,” Yusifiy said. “Then after a few months he started abusing me physically, very often, and not allowing me to speak to my family, and keeping me hostage from them.”
She said Mateen, whom she divorced in 2011, had aspired to be a police officer and had applied to the police academy. He was “mentally unstable and mentally ill [and] obviously disturbed, deeply, and traumatised”, she said, adding that she had not had contact with him for seven or eight years.	She said Mateen, whom she divorced in 2011, had aspired to be a police officer and had applied to the police academy. He was “mentally unstable and mentally ill [and] obviously disturbed, deeply, and traumatised”, she said, adding that she had not had contact with him for seven or eight years.
He “did follow religion, he did practice and he had his faith”, Yusifiy said, but he showed “no sign” of radicalism.	He “did follow religion, he did practice and he had his faith”, Yusifiy said, but he showed “no sign” of radicalism.
Although records show the couple were married for two years, Yusifiy said she was actually only with Mateen for four months, because of his abuse. She said family members had to come and “pull me out of his arms”.	Although records show the couple were married for two years, Yusifiy said she was actually only with Mateen for four months, because of his abuse. She said family members had to come and “pull me out of his arms”.
Divorce files released by the Port St Lucie county clerk on Monday showed that the couple said their divorce petition should be granted because their marriage was “irretrievably broken”, but shed no further light on the alleged physical abuse. The judgment included a mutual restraining order, directing the couple to “refrain from physical, verbal or any other form of harassment of the other, including but not limited to acts done in person or by telephone, at their residence or at work”.	Divorce files released by the Port St Lucie county clerk on Monday showed that the couple said their divorce petition should be granted because their marriage was “irretrievably broken”, but shed no further light on the alleged physical abuse. The judgment included a mutual restraining order, directing the couple to “refrain from physical, verbal or any other form of harassment of the other, including but not limited to acts done in person or by telephone, at their residence or at work”.
Oana Braescu, 32, of Fort Pierce, recalled seeing Yusify come out of the couple’s house on several occasions.	Oana Braescu, 32, of Fort Pierce, recalled seeing Yusify come out of the couple’s house on several occasions.
“He’d scream and scream, and one time … I could hear her asking him to stop hitting her,” she told Newsday.	“He’d scream and scream, and one time … I could hear her asking him to stop hitting her,” she told Newsday.
A former G4S colleague of Mateen told the New York Times on Sunday he had complained to the company several times about Mateen, who he said had “talked about killing people all the time”.	A former G4S colleague of Mateen told the New York Times on Sunday he had complained to the company several times about Mateen, who he said had “talked about killing people all the time”.
“I complained multiple times that he was dangerous, that he didn’t like blacks, women, lesbians and Jews,” said Daniel Gilroy, a former Fort Pierce police officer. “You meet bigots, but he was above and beyond. He was always angry, sweating, just angry at the world.”	“I complained multiple times that he was dangerous, that he didn’t like blacks, women, lesbians and Jews,” said Daniel Gilroy, a former Fort Pierce police officer. “You meet bigots, but he was above and beyond. He was always angry, sweating, just angry at the world.”
Gilroy, who worked with Mateen at the PGA Golf Club at PGA Village in Port St Lucie, said their relationship had become tense, with Mateen pestering him with up to 20 or 30 text messages each day, and more than a dozen phone messages. He wished he had pushed G4S harder to take action, he said.	Gilroy, who worked with Mateen at the PGA Golf Club at PGA Village in Port St Lucie, said their relationship had become tense, with Mateen pestering him with up to 20 or 30 text messages each day, and more than a dozen phone messages. He wished he had pushed G4S harder to take action, he said.
“If I didn’t walk away and I fought, then maybe 50 people would still be alive today,” he said. “I wasn’t shocked. I saw it coming.”	“If I didn’t walk away and I fought, then maybe 50 people would still be alive today,” he said. “I wasn’t shocked. I saw it coming.”
~~Related: Orlando gunman known to FBI shows difficulty of 'lone wolf' cases~~
Another former colleague at the PGA Golf Club, Eric Baumer, told Newsday: “When I saw his picture on the news, I thought, ‘Of course he did that.’ He had bad things to say about everybody – blacks, Jews, gays, a lot of politicians, our soldiers. He had a lot of hate in him. He told me America destroyed Afghanistan.”	Another former colleague at the PGA Golf Club, Eric Baumer, told Newsday: “When I saw his picture on the news, I thought, ‘Of course he did that.’ He had bad things to say about everybody – blacks, Jews, gays, a lot of politicians, our soldiers. He had a lot of hate in him. He told me America destroyed Afghanistan.”
Baumer added: “He would talk about what America did to Afghanistan after 9/11, saying we [the Americans] were murderers. He did talk about killing people, gay people, people he thought were bad. I didn’t know he meant it. How could you know?”	Baumer added: “He would talk about what America did to Afghanistan after 9/11, saying we [the Americans] were murderers. He did talk about killing people, gay people, people he thought were bad. I didn’t know he meant it. How could you know?”
However, a drag queen who went to the same high school as Mateen and worked next door to him 10 years ago told the Daily Beast he had never seen any signs of homophobia in his old schoolmate.	However, a drag queen who went to the same high school as Mateen and worked next door to him 10 years ago told the Daily Beast he had never seen any signs of homophobia in his old schoolmate.
“That’s the thing that’s pinning me to the wall the most – that this was a gay nightclub,” Samuel King said, adding that Mateen would come into the Ruby Tuesday restaurant where King worked and laugh with staff members, many of whom were gay.	“That’s the thing that’s pinning me to the wall the most – that this was a gay nightclub,” Samuel King said, adding that Mateen would come into the Ruby Tuesday restaurant where King worked and laugh with staff members, many of whom were gay.
King wrote on Facebook: “He was a jokester and didn’t have an issue with the LGBT community.”	King wrote on Facebook: “He was a jokester and didn’t have an issue with the LGBT community.”
But those who knew him at an even younger age, at high school in Stuart, Florida, painted a more sinister picture, recalling him celebrating while he watched 9/11 unfold on TV, according to the Washington Post.	But those who knew him at an even younger age, at high school in Stuart, Florida, painted a more sinister picture, recalling him celebrating while he watched 9/11 unfold on TV, according to the Washington Post.
According to the court records released on Monday by the county clerk in Port St Lucie, while attending high school and in his early college years, Mateen held jobs at Circuit City, Hollister, Chick fil A and Walgreens.	According to the court records released on Monday by the county clerk in Port St Lucie, while attending high school and in his early college years, Mateen held jobs at Circuit City, Hollister, Chick fil A and Walgreens.
Mateen was born in 1986 and by 1991, his family had moved to a house in Port Saint Lucie, about 120 miles south of Orlando. He attended Martin County high school in Stuart, a small city nearby. In 2006, he changed his name from Omar Mir Seddique to Omar Mir Seddique Mateen. Court records do not explain what prompted the decision. At the time, Mateen listed his occupation as “student”.	Mateen was born in 1986 and by 1991, his family had moved to a house in Port Saint Lucie, about 120 miles south of Orlando. He attended Martin County high school in Stuart, a small city nearby. In 2006, he changed his name from Omar Mir Seddique to Omar Mir Seddique Mateen. Court records do not explain what prompted the decision. At the time, Mateen listed his occupation as “student”.
At the time of his divorce from Yusifiy, in 2011, Mateen stated that he worked a security job, grossing $1,600 per month. Yusifiy worked in real estate, records show, and grossed $3,000 per month.	At the time of his divorce from Yusifiy, in 2011, Mateen stated that he worked a security job, grossing $1,600 per month. Yusifiy worked in real estate, records show, and grossed $3,000 per month.