WATCH: Father of shooter in Orlando club tells NBC News: “We are apologizing for the whole incident”https://t.co/SJiy3pFAYJ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 12, 2016
NBC news has reached out to the family of reported Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Saddiqui Mateen, receiving a stunning claim in return. According to Today, Mateen’s father claims that an incident where the shooter witnessed two men kissing in Miami may be the cause of shooting at Pulse — now the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
“This had nothing to do with religion.” NBC reports shooter got mad when he saw two men kissing in Miami. https://t.co/D2z5m3TYVF
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) June 12, 2016
The claims add fuel to speculation that the attack may have been a hate crime on top of the terrorist connections for Mateen. The alleged shooter was a private security guard, which CNN reports may explain the possible weapons training. Mateen is a citizen of the United States, with his family originating from outside the country.
More information is flowing out from this horrifying incident, including any possible connections to radical Islam and the possible hate crime implications involved. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.