What we know about the Orlando mass shooting suspect Omar Mateen
ORLANDO, Fla. (WPVI) -- Omar Mateen called 911 to pledge his allegiance to ISIS after the shooting at an Orlando nightclub began, two separate law enforcement officials confirm to ABC News.
Some law enforcement sources had previously characterized Mateen as having sympathy for, or ties to Islamic terrorism.
Multiple law enforcement sources tell ABC News, Mateen was a U.S. born citizen who lived in St Lucie County, Florida. Mateen's parents were born in Afghanistan, officials said. He was born in New York City, but officials said there is no evidence he has been here recently.
He was believed to be living with his sister and her husband in Florida.
Mateen had two firearms licenses, a security officer license and a statewide firearms license, all expiring in September 2017.
Mateen's ex-wife, originally from New Jersey, who now lives in Colorado. Sources said they met online eight years ago, got married in Florida, lived briefly in Fort Pierce, Florida and divorced in 2011. The marriage lasted only a few months before she left, sources said. She is now engaged to someone else in Colorado
His father said he is "in shock like the whole country." He says he wasn't aware of anything his son might have been planning. Mir Seddique told NBC News that his son got angry when he saw two men kissing in Miami a couple of months ago and thinks that may be related to the shooting. He says it has nothing to do with religion.
Mateen took hostages and opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday morning, killing 50 people and wounding 53 others before SWAT officers killed him, authorities said.
Police Chief John Mina said Mateenhad an assault-style rifle, a handgun and a "suspicious device" with him during the attack.
Earlier, FBI assistant agent in charge of the agency's Tampa division, Ron Hopper, said investigators are "looking at all angles right now" to find a motive.
"We do have suggestions that that individual may have leanings towards that, that particular ideology (Islamic extremism). But right now we can't say definitively, so we're still running everything around," he said.
GUNMAN'S HISTORY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
FBI agent Ron Hopper revealed that Mateen was interviewed three times between 2013 and 2014.
"In the course of the investigation, Mateen was interviewed twice," said Hopper. "Ultimately, we were unable to verify the substance of his comments, and the investigation was closed."
Mateen was interviewed twice in 2013 when he made inflammatory comments to his co-workers alleging possible ties to terror. The case was closed after records checks, interviews and physical surveillance were not able to substantiate the comments.
"He can legally walk into a gun dealership and acquire and purchase firearms, and he did so in the last week or so," said Trevor Velinor, ATF.
In 2014, the FBI interviews Mateen once more following possible ties to American suicide bomber Moner Abu-Salha. It was determined that the contact was minimal and the case was closed.
ATF officials also confirmed that Mateen purchased the firearms used in Sunday's attacks within the last week. The weapons were purchased legally.
Interviews with Mateen's family are ongoing, Hopper told ABC News.
Information from ABC News and the Associated Press
