Omar Mateen: Investigation Moves Forward — U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch Confirms That FBI Will Release Gunman’s Transcripts
The investigation of Orlando nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, will move forward as the FBI releases a partial transcript of conversations between Mateen and Orlando police negotiators.
According to The Associated Press, U.S. attorney general Lynch told the media Sunday that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript from within the Pulse gay nightclub which should effectively move the investigation forward.
Mateen rampaged through Pulse nightclub armed with an AR-15 leaving 49 people dead and 53 injured in his wake on June 12. Mateen was killed by police after they rushed into Pulse to apprehend Mateen.
Officials to investigate Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen's "online footprint": https://t.co/5HsAkKaqvp https://t.co/kOekPytDBo
— CBSN (@CBSNLive) June 12, 2016
On the Mateen investigation moving forward, Lynch specifically told ABC’s This Week that, “the top goal while intensifying pressure on ISIL — the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen — is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando”
“As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we’re trying to build that profile so that we can move forward.”
Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with officials and move the investigation forward.
Investigators are still in the process of interviewing witnesses. Their objective is to learn more about Mateen’s personal life as the investigation moves forward.
So far — according to the Council of American-Islamic Relations — the FBI interviewed a man who worshiped at the same mosque as Mateen as a part of their investigation.
A representative of the council sat in on the FBI’s interview and investigation on Friday. The investigation took place at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce. Saleh said that the exchange lasted half an hour.
MORE ON THE INQUISITR:
Orlando Gunman: FBI Investigating Rumors That Omar Mateen Was Gay And Frequented The Pulse Nightclub
ISIS Fighter Praises Orlando Shooter, Omar Mateen, And Encourages More Attacks In A New Video
Omar Mateen Photos: Orlando Shooter is Omar Mir Seddique Mateen Of Port St. Lucie, Florida
General Attorney Lynch also appeared on CBS’ Face The Nation. Lynch said that in order to move the investigation forward, investigators must find out why Mateen targeted the gay community.
Other clubs have expressed solidarity for the lives lost at Pulse as the investigation moves forward. The Parliament House, a gay club and resort near downtown Orlando, stopped playing music at 2 a.m., and its patrons paused for a moment of silence for the Pulse victims — unheard of in a night club.
Watch A Survivor’s testimony below
An #Orlando attack survivor who hid in the bathroom during the shooting shares his terrifying ordeal: https://t.co/9aNVuHr8cb
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 14, 2016
Joy Metropolitan Community Church member, Megan Currie said during a Sunday sermon that Mateen’s attack was an effort to scare the gay community.
“This was a hate crime and this happened because someone was homophobic.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott called the attack “devastating” at the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
“But here is the positive out of it… people have come together. There are so many people who have done so many wonderful acts.”
Amid the investigation, all of Orlando has paid their respects by leaving balloons, flowers, pictures, and posters at a quasi memorial in front of the city’s new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Forty-nine red heart-emblazoned white crosses can be found at the latter location with all of the victim’s names written on them.
A Chicago carpenter named Greg Zanis drove for miles from his city to Orlando to install the crosses, which were made by people of all faiths. His message to all, “Quit judging and start loving.”
The FBI continues to press for more information during their investigation as the process moves forward.
[Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images]
