Sunday morning’s attack surpasses the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 to become the worst mass shooting in US history.Īuthorities have identified the shooter as 29-year-old Omar Saddiqui Mateen from Fort Pierce, about 120 miles southeast of Orlando.

A three-hour hostage situation ensued, ending when authorities used an armored vehicle to break down the door of the building and kill the gunman at around 5 am. A gunman opened fire in Orlando’s Pulse nightclub early morning Sunday, killing approximately 50 people and injuring another 53.Ĭlubgoers were enjoying an evening at Pulse, which describes itself as “ the hottest gay bar in Orlando,” when shots started to go off around 2 am.