LATEST: Officials Begin Identifying 50 Killed in Orlando Mass Shooting

ORLANDO, FL — As the investigation into the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history continued, officials began the slow task of releasing the names of those killed in the early Sunday attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando. Some of those identified were in their 30s. More were in their 20s.

Disclosure of the the victims' names was slowed by a need to inform family first and because the club, called Pulse, was transformed from a place of dance, drink and fun to the grimmest of crime scenes, preventing medical workers from retrieving some of the 50 dead for hours while investigators sifted through evidence.

Overnight, officials released additional names. However, the identities of more than half of the victims have yet to be made public.

See: List of Victims Killed In Orlando Shooting

Vigils and tributes to the fallen included a moment of silence Sunday evening, requested by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. President Barack Obama has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of those killed in the club shooting. The top of the Empire State building — which has seemingly shined in a thousand different colors over the years — went dark Sunday night.

Obama described the attack as "an act of terror and hate." The suspect, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, reportedly swore allegiance to the head of the Islamic State in a call to authorities just prior to the attack.

The shooting took place at Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Lounge, a popular gay bar, where about 350 people were dancing and drinking. A state of emergency for Orange County was declared by the City of Orlando and Scott.

Mateen was killed by law enforcement in an exchange of gunfire, according to Orlando Police Chief John Mina. Eleven city officers and three deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on leave. An Orlando police officer was shot during the exchange of bullets, but police say his Kevlar helmet saved him.

Seddique Mir Mateen, the father of the shooter, posted a video on his Facebook page early Monday lamenting the loss of his son and his actions.

“My son, Omar Mateen, was a very good boy, an educated boy, who had a child and a wife, very respectful of his parents,” he said in Dari, a language spoken in Afghanistan, according to a translation from The New York Times. 

“I don’t know what caused this,” he said. “I did not know and did not understand that he has anger in his heart. Only God can punish homosexuality. This is not an issue for humans to punish.” 

The father told NBC News on Sunday that the shooting “has nothing to do with religion.” In an interview, he suggested his son had become enraged at seeing a gay couple kissing during a recent trip to Miami.

More than five hours after the shooter was killed, bodies were still inside the club. According to authorities, work at the scene had been complicated by the potential of an explosive device. As night fell, many families of people who were at the club did not know whether their loved ones were killed or hospitalized.

Orlando Police began releasing the names of those killed about 14 hours after the shooting. Edward Sotomayor Jr., Stanley Almodovar III, Luis Omar Oscasio-Capo and Juan Ramon Guerrero were the first victims identified. All four were killed, police said. Orlando has established a webpage where officials intend to list victims' names once notifications of next of kin have been made. The address is www.cityoforlando.net/victims.

The shooting reportedly began around 2 a.m. An officer responded to a call of shots fired at the club. He first engaged the shooter outside of the club, with gunfire exchanged. The man ran back inside Pulse, shot many of those in the bar, and a hostage situation began. Some who were inside the club thought the gunshots were part of a music set.

A message on the Pulse Orlando Facebook page at 2:09 a.m. read, "Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running."

Law enforcement raided the club at 5 a.m., rescuing approximately 30 hostages. The gunman was reportedly carrying an assault rifle, a handgun and a "device," according to Mina.

“We were dancing by the hip-hop area when I heard shots, bam, bam, bam, and the only thing I could think of was to duck, but I ran out instead,” Joel Figueroa, 19, of Orlando, told The New York Times. “Everybody was screaming and running toward the front door. I didn’t get to see the shooter.”

A friend of his had been shot three times and taken to a hospital, he said.

Christopher Hansen dropped to the floor when he heard gunshots.

"I just fell down and crawled out," Hansen told the Orlando Sentinel. "I helped someone who was on the ground. I wasn't sure if he was dead or alive."

Mina Justice told the AP her son Eddie texted her from inside the club. In a video posted to YouTube, Justice said Eddie texted her: "He's coming. I'm gonna die."

Justice had yet to hear from her son Sunday evening.

Sunday's death toll far surpassed an attack at Virginia Tech in 2007, where 33 were killed, as well as high-profile attacks at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2013, where 28 died, and a mass shooting that killed 14 in San Bernardino, Calif., last December.

President Obama alluded to these tragedies and others in a fresh call for action on new gun control measures.

"This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, in a house of worship, or in a movie theater or in a nightclub," Obama said. "And we have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be. To actively do nothing is a decision as well."

Mateen, 29, was from Port St. Lucie. He was a U.S. citizen, but some of his family members are not. Grayson would not say where the family is from, but several media outlets have reported they are from Afghanistan.

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ATF confirmed to the press Sunday afternoon that Mateen purchased a handgun and long gun within the last few days.

FBI agent Ron Hopper told the media Sunday morning that the suspect "may have leanings toward extreme Islamic ideologies."

NBC News reported Mateen called 911 just before the shooting and swore allegiance to the head of the Islamic State.

"The Islamic State news agency has just issued a statement that says they are responsible," U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Sunday afternoon. "That has not been confirmed."

Security firm G4S confirmed Mateen has been employed with the company for more than eight years. "We are cooperating fully with all law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, as they conduct their investigation," G4S said in a statement.

SEE ALSO:

• Orlando Shooter and Timeline: What We Know So Far
• ‘This Has Nothing To Do With Religion,’ Orlando Shooter’s Dad Says

The attack was well-organized, and the shooter was well-prepared, officials said. “This is clearly an act of terrorism,” Scott said at a Sunday afternoon press conference. “It’s sickening, (and) it should make every American angry.”

Blood donation centers in the Orlando area were full of people ready to donate for the dozens in need, with officials encouraging folks to come back over the next few days.

LGBT organization Equality Florida has established a fundraiser to support victims of the shooting.

The shooting at the gay bar took place during LGBT pride month, celebrated each year in June. There was a reportedly unrelated arrest in Santa Monica, Calif., where a man was found with assault weapons and explosive materials, possibly meant for the Los Angeles Pride Festival on Sunday, authorities said.

The mass shooting in Orlando has led to an increased police presence for Pride events in Boston, Detroit and Washington, D.C., on Sunday. "We will not be deterred by hate as we gather to celebrate love," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Gay bars have been targets for attacks in the past, most notably a bomb attack at an Atlanta club in 1997. Marco Guinette, of Massachusetts, owns the MB Lounge in Worcester.

"I’m appalled, and they are saying it’s a terrorist attack, which is unfortunately a sad thing this country is dealing with all over the place," Guinette told Patch. "Now, being the owner of the MB, it frightens me to know that now I really have to watch closely. You just don’t know what will come up. It’s just horrific these people died."

SEE ALSO:

• Pulse Nightclub Founder 'Devastated and Heartbroken'
• Suspect Arrested with Guns, Explosives for Possible Use at L.A. Pride

Obama said Orlando has the nation's support today and going forward.

"This could have been any one of our communities," he said. "As Americans, we are united in grief, outrage and resolve to defend our people."

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a press conference that, “Islamic terrorists need to know they will not win.”

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, referenced attacks in Paris in November. Coordinated terrorist attacks there left 130 dead, with the majority of those killed at a concert hall.

"This attack is so painfully reminiscent of the terrible attack at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris and other ISIS-inspired attacks in recent years," Schiff noted.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said his community needs to stand strong and support the victims and their families.

"We have a strong, resilient community," he said. "Tonight, we had a crime that will have a lasting impact on our community."

The City of Orlando has asked the public not to hold vigils in the city, due to the strain on resources currently devoted to the investigation and the victims.

Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan's ambassador to the U.S., tweeted his country's condolences Sunday.

"On behalf of the people of Afghanistan, our thoughts & prayers go out to the victims, their families & friends of the attack in Orlando," he wrote.

See Also:

• Orlando Nightclub Shooting: Urgent Need for Blood Donors
• Hotline Opened for Victims' Families

People who believe they have an immediate family member who may be in the hospital following the shooting are asked to report to the main entrance of Orlando Regional Medical Center's north tower, 52 W. Underwood St. Identification cards are required.

Pulse owner Barbara Poma released a statement noted she was grieving with those who lost loved ones.

"From the beginning, Pulse has served as a place of love and acceptance for the LGBTQ community," Poma wrote.

Pulse's cofounder, Ron Legler, who now lives in Baltimore, was "devastated and heartbroken" by the news, he wrote on Facebook Sunday.

Pulse was founded in 2004 by Poma and Legler. Poma opened the club in honor of her brother John, who died in 1991 after battling HIV for several years, according to the club website. Pulse works with a wide variety of organizations to raise awareness for HIV.

Anyone with information about the shooting can can contact the FBI Hotline at 1-800-CALL FBI.

Photo courtesy of the Orlando Police Department

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