The absolutely terrifying Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting killed 50 people and left about 53 others injured. The alleged gunman, Omar Saddiqui Mateen, stormed the club with a semi-automatic weapon before perishing in the violence, which President Obama described as filled with “terror and hate.” In the aftermath, those who knew Mateen spoke of his unhinged, violent, and homophobic ways while the public struggles to cope with the aftereffects of yet another mass shooting.
More than one motive for the incident has surfaced. 911 records show that Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS as the bloodshed occurred. And Mateen’s father believes his son’s aversion to homosexuality is the biggest clue of all. The incident, which began at around 2 a.m. at the Pulse club, carried on for hours as Mateen stormed the building and took hostages. At around 5 a.m., authorities decided it was time to attempt rescue.
This audio recording, which was captured from a balcony across the street from the club, reveals the minutes the SWAT team entered the club. Hundreds of shot-like sounds occur throughout the clip, and no doubt, many of these noises involve the team exchanging fire with Mateen. A lot of the noises were likely flashbangs as well, but the overall effect is enormous. You can listen to the audio footage below.