Shooting at Orlando nightclub a 'Domestic Terror Incident,' say authorities
June 12, 2016 17:42
A shooting at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning has been described as a "domestic terror incident" with approximately 20 fatalities and at least 42 hospitalized individuals, officials said.
At a press conference on Sunday at 7 a.m., an FBI official was asked if the shooter, who was shot and killed by police, had ties to Jihadist terror groups. "At this time we're looking at all angles right now." the official said. "We do have suggestions that that individual may have leanings towards that, that particular ideology. But right now we cant say definitively so were still running everything around
The FBI also said the shooter "was organized and well-prepared," adding "he is not from this area."
Officials at the press conference said a police officer responded to shots fired at 2:02 a.m., and the officer then exchanged fire with the gunman -- who has yet to be identified.
It then turned into "a hostage situation." SWAT officers exchanged gunfire. The gunman had an assault rifle, handgun and "some kind of device on him." At approximately 5 a.m., the decision was made to rescue the hostages, officials said.
"This can be classified as a domestic terror incident," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at the press conference.
And the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement is investigating this morning's shooting as "an act of terrorism." It said it will determine if it is "domestic or international" terrorism.
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