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| New York Daily News | - |
The
terrorist who slaughtered 49 people at an Orlando gay club died in a
hail of bullets fired by police moments after they pulled off a daring
rescue of hostages who were about to die, authorities said Monday.
Orlando gay club terrorist Omar Mateen engaged in multiple gun battles, pledged to ISIS in 911 call from club's bathroom
What We Know About The Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen
Inform
New details began to emerge of how police brought an end to Omar Mateen’s hate-fueled massacre at the Pulse nightclub that also left more than 50 people wounded following failed negotiations with the “cool and calm” maniac.
After opening fire in the club around last call Sunday morning using an assault-style rifle and handgun that he purchased legally within the last week, Mateen exchanged fire with an off-duty Orlando police officer who was in-uniform.
Officers flooded the club and forced Mateen to retreat to a bathroom, where took “several” clubgoers hostage, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. Around 15 other people were holed up in an adjacent bathroom.
Mom shares tragic texts from son during mass shooting
Law enforcement officials work at the Pulse nightclub following Sunday’s fatal shooting.
(Chris O'Meara/AP)Around 2:20 a.m. Mateen called 911.
"There was an allegiance to the Islamic State," Mina said.
Mateen was not laughing during the phone call, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
Names of confirmed dead in Orlando club shooting begin to surface
Negotiations with Mateen got underway as a SWAT team took position in a bathroom near the one where the terrorist was hunkered down.
Mina described Mateen as “cool and calm” while dealing with negotiators.
Omar Mateen was killed following the attack.
(Myspace)Roughly three hours later, “the scene had stabilized” and cops were negotiating with Mateen, Mina said.
But the madman gave the police no choice but to act when he began mentioning explosives, Mina said.
FBI agents investigate near the damaged rear wall of the nightclub following Sunday’s attack.
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)At least 50 killed in deadliest mass shooting in US history
Cops opted to breach the bathroom using an explosive.
But the blast didn’t break through the wall completely, so cops rammed it with a BearCat armored vehicle.
Hostages poured out of the hole in the wall, and Mateen followed, Mina said, and he was shot dead.
"We were able to rescue dozens and dozens who came out of that hole," the police chief said.
One cop was saved by his Kevlar helmet, which deflected a bullet. Mina said they were investigating whether the officer could have been hit by friendly fire.
People pay their respects near the scene of the shooting.
(James Keivom/New York Daily News)Of the 49 victims, 48 have been identified, authorities said.
Investigators were tracing a third gun found in Mateen's car.
Mateen attempted to buy military-grade body armor in recent weeks, but a store declined to sell it to him, CNN reported.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer spoke of the city's resilience in the face of horror.
"We will not be defined by the actions of a cowardly hater," Dyer said. "We will be defined by how we respond and treat each other."
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